Paris (AFP)
LCI is continuing its transfer window and has recruited one of the star polemicists of RMC and BFMTV, Eric Brunet, the TF1 group's channel announced on Thursday.
"I am pleased to welcome a great voice from television and radio, an assertive tone, a free spirit, which will further diversify the big names in the chain," said Fabien Namias, deputy managing director of LCI, in a statement. LCI did not indicate which space it would occupy.
A graduate of the Tours school of journalism and the French Press Institute, Eric Brunet, 55, began his career at France 3. He then worked on programs on LCI, Europe 1, France 5, Canal + , France 2 or Paris Première.
Regularly taking a position on the air, rather far to the right, defining himself as "liberal", Eric Brunet was since 2010 at the helm of several political programs including BFMTV and RMC.
RMC had been put in default by the CSA in 2011, in particular for “remarks likely to encourage discriminatory behaviors” held in its emission.
Eric Brunet has also published several books including "Being on the right: a French taboo", in 2006, "In the head of a reac", in 2010 and "Why Sarko will win", in 2012, the year he was decorated of the Legion of Honor - and who saw the election of François Hollande.
LCI had already announced Wednesday the recruitment of Darius Rochebin, a figure of the Swiss television.
The channel has experienced exceptional audience waves in recent months. Born 25 years ago but broadcast free only since 2016, the channel has managed to close the gap with its rival BFMTV. Even if the Altice chain remains clearly the leader (2.9% in May), LCI for the first time exceeded 1% of audience share in 2019, against 0.7% in 2018, and reached 1.5 % in May and 1.2% in June.
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