Paris (AFP)

Opposed to the scheduled suppression of France 4 in August, forty senators from all sides call on deputies to "confirm" an amendment voted this week by the upper house to perpetuate the youth channel, in a column published in the Journal du dimanche ( JDD).

The government initially planned to shut down France 4 in the summer of 2020 in favor of 100% digital programs and for the sake of savings for France Télévisions.

But he had granted a one-year reprieve to the chain, acclaimed for its educational programs during the closure of schools last spring.

"Won't what was precious during the lockdown be afterwards?"

wonder 42 members of the Senate Culture Committee, recalling that the BBC has planned to "relaunch" in January 2022 "its BBC 3 youth channel", closed "a few years ago" in favor of "all digital" .

The disappearance of France 4 would only lead to "about twenty million euros in savings", that is to say "less than the budget of a municipality of 10,000 inhabitants", underline the senators, led by Laurent Lafon, president (Union centrist) of the culture committee, and Jean-Raymond Hugonet (LR), rapporteur for the audiovisual bill.

Conversely, its maintenance would strengthen "the French sector of excellence in animation" and "educational innovation" without "forgetting the most modest families who do not have high-speed internet".

"This is why the Senate voted this week" an amendment to the audiovisual bill "engraving the existence of a channel devoted to" youth "programs from 6 am to 8 pm. This strong gesture will now have to be confirmed at the National Assembly ", add the senators, counting on" the very many deputies "who have already expressed their support for France 4.

The amendment could also make it possible to perpetuate Culturebox, the ephemeral channel launched in February by France Télévisions, extended until August via its transfer in early May on channel 14, that of France 4, in the evening, they argue.

In an interview with JDD, the president of France Télévisions Delphine Ernotte reiterated herself in favor of maintaining the youth channel, citing the digital divide.

"If we want to reach all audiences, especially the youngest, then we need to keep this channel 14 and France 4," she said.

In a report published in January, the deputies Béatrice Piron (LREM) and Maxime Minot (LR) had also pleaded for the maintenance of a youth channel.

© 2021 AFP