Paris (AFP)

Delphine Ernotte was reappointed for a five-year term as President of France Televisions by the CSA, a first in the history of the public broadcasting group at the head of which no leader had ever been reelected.

Ms. Ernotte, from the telecoms world, had already been the first woman appointed to head France Télévisions in 2015, to succeed Rémy Pflimlin.

"The choice of the Council was based, in accordance with the terms of the law, on criteria of competence and experience and on the analysis of strategic projects informed by the hearings", indicates the CSA, which auditioned eight candidates, in its decision released Wednesday.

"The Council has chosen to continue the transformations initiated to ensure, in dialogue, consultation and respect for budgetary balances, the adaptation of France Televisions to a rapidly changing environment", continues the CSA.

"It was also based on the commitments made in editorial matters to enhance the place of creation, develop the cultural and educational offer, renew links with young people and provide reference information," he adds.

"He took note of the desire to address all French people and represent them in the richness of their diversity, taking into account all the territories, and to form teams based on a principle of parity and Finally, it took into account the stated orientation of fully registering France Télévisions in the digital world and in the European concert ", concludes the Council.

For this new mandate, the CSA had received 12 candidacies, eight of which had been deemed admissible: that of Delphine Ernotte, Christopher Baldelli, former head of RTL who also directed France 2, Serge Cimino and Michel Goldstein, both journalists in France Télévisions, Pierre-Etienne Pommier, digital advisor to La République en Marche à l'Assemblement (LREM), Jean-Paul Philippot, boss of the Belgian audiovisual group RTBF, Serge Schick, former director of strategy for Radio France and by Sandrine Roustan, who works for the second largest Chinese media group Shanghai Media and went through M6 and France 4.

The eight candidates had been auditioned Monday and Tuesday.

© 2020 AFP