Paris (AFP)
The Minister of Culture made a point of facing the leaders of major groups in the sector that "increase the pressure" to "get more" before the presentation of the audio-visual reform, Monday in an interview at the site of Echoes .
The leaders of Canal +, M6, TF1 and Altice had spoken with one voice on Thursday in Le Figaro, denouncing a "policy of small compromises" that "made the government retreat" in the development of this much-awaited reform.
"It's part of the game, even if it's a kind of old fashioned lobbying," commented Franck Riester on Monday.
"I repeat it loud and clear," said the minister. "This text will allow television, as well as audiovisual and film producers to be stronger in the economic and cultural struggle in which they are engaged, while strengthening the place of authors and creators.While private channels say, this text is beneficial to them ".
It "lifts several constraints" like "the prohibition to broadcast the cinema on television several days a week", eases the regulation on advertising, makes provisions to fight against piracy, and rebalances the taxation allocated to the CNC between the traditional channels and their new competitors of the Internet, "after having suppressed last year taxes on their advertising revenue that had already saved them some thirty million euros," detailed the minister.
To fight newcomers like Amazon or Netflix, the leaders of the audiovisual sector demanded a "liberalization" of the sector, to have "leeway" similar to that of platforms.
"I do not say that we have satisfied all the demands," replied Franck Riester, "but my role is to serve the public interest, not to sum the special interests of a profession."
For example, if it allows advertising addressed, the reform should not "shake up the economic balance of radio and the regional daily press," he said.
"The bill will not move before the beginning of the parliamentary debate" in January, hammered Franck Riester, even if "certain points deserve to be specified".
Among these points: the generalization of the ultra HD standard for televisions, or the exhibition of French-speaking artists on online music platforms.
© 2019 AFP