Paris (AFP)
Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot on Tuesday confirmed the postponement - of one year - of the shutdown of France 4, expected following the success of the youth channel during confinement, but also the closure of France Ô, scheduled for the end August.
The audiovisual reform bill, drawn up by his predecessor Franck Riester, provided for the shutdown of the TNT signal from France 4 and France Ô on August 9, to save money and invest in digital technology.
But the government opened the door in April to a possible extension of France 4, the youth channel of France Televisions, whose educational programs during confinement were welcomed.
Roselyne Bachelot confirmed Tuesday, in a press release, the "postponement of one year of the shutdown of the France 4 channel to ensure the transition necessary for the rise of the delinearized youth offer of France Televisions".
"In a health context which remains uncertain, the temporary postponement of the closure of a chain with programs intended for young people and which can serve as additional educational relay, appears desirable", explains the ministry.
"An additional period will allow to calmly accompany the transition" to the digital offers of France Televisions for young people, Okoo and Lumni, and "will allow a fine redefinition of the future schedules, in particular of France 5", continues the ministry.
The Minister also confirmed the judgment of France Ô "from 23 August 2020", which must be compensated by increased visibility of overseas territories on public channels.
"After the launch of the digital portal dedicated to Overseas Territories on June 3, whose first audiences are encouraging, it appears that all the conditions are now in place to proceed with the shutdown of France Ô which, with an audience share of 0.3%, no longer appears as an offer adapted in terms of visibility of overseas, "said the ministry in a press release.
"This stop will not result in any dismissal," said the ministry.
© 2020 AFP