Paris (AFP)
The audiovisual reform prepared by the Minister of Culture Franck Riester will seize the consolidation of public service in a holding company (excluding Arte and TV5) and a merger between the CSA and Hadopi, told AFP officials of the sector on Monday. .
The Minister of Culture on Monday launched consultations in the audiovisual sector, with a view to finalizing a bill he is due to present this autumn and which is supposed to be adopted in January 2020.
This reform launched by his predecessor Françoise Nyssen, rejected several times, aims in particular to adapt the regulation and regulation of the sector to the challenges of digital.
In this context, the French channels insist insistently a relaxation of the regulatory constraints that they must respect, while platforms like Netflix do as they see fit. In February, the French Competition Authority supported them by calling on the government to loosen this regulatory stranglehold to "restore a form of equity in the rules of the game".
A message well received rue de Valois. According to several sources who wish to remain anonymous, confirming an information of the Echos, Mr. Riester said during this consultation that he would resume part of the demands of channels in the bill, but with safeguards, not to damage sectors of activity protected by current rules (cinema operators, local media, etc.).
The bill will therefore allow so-called "segmented" advertising on channels, such as the distribution of geolocated ads, but in a framed manner. As proposed by SNPTV (syndicate TV advertising) and Sirti (independent radios) distributors will broadcast targeted advertising and geolocalised, but without being able to mention the addresses of their outlets.
Another measure long demanded by the PAF, TVs can now broadcast movies whenever they want: the bill will end the prohibition of movies some days and nights, a provision that was intended to protect theaters but did not apply to streaming platforms.
Moreover, the minister decided in favor of a merger between the CSA (audiovisual policeman) and the Hadopi (anti-piracy authority), but not with the Arcep (telecom constable).
When the creation of a holding overseeing the various companies of the public broadcasting (France Televisions, Radio France ...), considered since the beginning of the five-year period, it is now registered (as well as the designation of their leaders by their councils instead of the CSA), said one of the sources, but this new structure will include neither the French-German channel Arte nor the French-language channel TV5 Monde, with particular status.
© 2019 AFP