The French version of the American magazine "Forbes" publishes an exclusive interview with Delphine Ernotte on Friday.

"Culture Médias" was able to get the interview in preview, and unveils Thursday the version of the boss of France Television on the stormy ousting of presenter Patrick Sébastien. 

EUROPE INFO 1

The ousting of Patrick Sébastien from the France 2 programs had caused a stir.

Fueled by the host himself, who had described as "filthy" the way his departure took place in October 2018 and claimed 5 million euros from France Televisions.

The management of public television had been fairly silent for two years.

His boss, Delphine Ernotte, speaks for the first time on the subject, in an interview for 

Forbes

published this Friday, but that Europe 1 has already obtained.

And according to her, the only person responsible for this departure is… Patrick Sébastien himself.

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Refusal to modernize

In the interview, Delphine Ernotte explains why she decided to terminate Patrick Sébastien's contract.

According to the boss of France Télévisions, the conflict arose out of debates on the future of the 

largest cabaret in the world,

 broadcast from December 1998 to May 2019. "The program, which was formidable in some ways, was getting a little older," believes- she does.

"Not so much the numbers that were presented as what was going on around them. The audience fell sharply. We therefore asked Patrick Sébastien to evolve, to modernize the concept, but he declined."

According to Delphine Ernotte, it would be this refusal of Patrick Sébastien to modernize the format of his flagship program that would have led to the departure of the program and the host of the antennas of France Televisions.

An eviction that she seems to regret.

"Patrick Sébastien is very talented, he's a great animator, he knows how to spot incredible talents," she explains to

Forbes

.

"I sincerely would have preferred him to tell us: 'OK, I understand, we are working'. We would always have him on the air." 

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Ernotte, future patron of European television?

Recently reappointed at the head of the public group for a second term, Delphine Ernotte is also questioned by the magazine on her priorities and her vision for the company.

And we learn that the boss of France Televisions is running for another position.

She is in fact a candidate for the presidency of European public broadcasting.

A strategic position at a time when the alliance of European channels facing streaming platforms seems vital.

Delphine Ernotte has joined forces with the general manager of Czech public television to form a pair.

We will know this Friday if their candidacy was accepted.