While discussions are underway between the executive and Radio France to remove the cap on the latter's annual advertising revenue, private radio stations, including Europe 1, have expressed their disagreement.

They now appeal to the responsibility of the government, believing that this removal of the ceiling will "affect" their economic model.

This is a new warning launched on Tuesday by private radio stations, including Europe 1, united within the Radio Bureau and SIRTI, as well as Skyrock and Radio Classique.

All are opposed, once again, to the plan to abolish the annual ceiling for advertising revenue on Radio France.

After a first joint statement published on February 1, these branches now appeal, in a second statement, to the responsibility of the government.

The stake of their wrath: the new Contract of Objectives and Means (COM) 2020-2022, currently under discussion between the government and Radio France.

Contract which therefore no longer mentions the cap on advertising revenue at 42 million euros per year.

A blow to the business model of private radio stations

The signatories of the press release believe that "any impact on the advertising market significantly affects the economic model of private radio stations, already weakened by the health crisis".

And put forward several numerical arguments.

"Radio France already captures more than 8% of net receipts from radio media, and this share has more than doubled since 2016," they note.

"Radio France's resources are over 630 million euros, which is more than the turnover of all of the 330 French private commercial radio stations, or 550 million euros."

In addition, the already existing ceiling is often exceeded.

"The Court of Auditors, in its 2019 report, found the non-compliance with this ceiling, also underlined by the CSA", write the private radios.

And this while Radio France, as a public service, therefore receives "very substantial" public funding.

"It's about preserving French radio stations"

For private radio stations, removing this ceiling is a way for the State to absorb additional expenditure from Radio France without putting its hand in the wallet.

“The advertising market cannot be an 'adjustment variable',” they say.

Also recalling that Radio France was pinned, still not the Court of Auditors in its 2019 report, for "management problems that have remained unanswered". 

"After a negative opinion of the Senate and the CSA, it is the National Assembly, last week, during the examination of the project of abolition of the advertising ceiling, which issued a warning against the risks of such measure for private radios ", therefore conclude the signatories.

"Consequently, the Radio Bureau, SIRTI, Skyrock and Radio Classique are now calling for the responsibility of the government. It is a question of preserving French radios, their jobs and their contributions to the diversity of ideas, to freedom expression and information, culture as well as the financing of creation. "