This real missed Act has not gone unnoticed

It is an historic reform for public service needs to have the resources for its ambitions. I hope that you understood that, for me, this moment of sharing with you was an important moment. Thank you. "Elysée Palace, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. In the Hall, the President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, closed his public speech on audio-visual broadcasting. At his side, the members of the Commission for the new public television with their head, Jean-François Copé. For four months, the Caucus has worked for "reinventing" a public television without advertising. At the Elysee Palace, on 25 June, they solemnly deliver up to the head of State the results of their work. Leaving her desk at the end of his speech, Nicolas Sarkozy joined the assistance. Without a look for Jean-François Copé, who, behind him, stood for the report. Unfortunate. In the eyes of all, Nicolas Sarkozy gives the impression that after his speech, the conclusions of the commission are already over.

This real missed Act has not gone unnoticed. More than three months after, it is still in people's minds. "It re-reads the story differently today." "It is blatant, Nicolas Sarkozy has not shown much interest in this report," observes Agnès Molinié, President of the France 2 SDJ. Within the relevant channels, the scene seems in any case exacerbated latent malaise. Since 8 January, date of the announcement of the removal of advertising on public television, and since the installation of the Copé commission, employees of France television remained in uncertainty as to the financing of the group, about to be deprived of 30 of its revenues. They see no clearer today...

At the time, in the corridors of the House, a question is on everyone's lips: what this commission has served since everything seems to be remote controlled from the Elysee However, high hopes were placed in it. Upon his installation, its President, Jean-François Copé, had said and repeated that it would work "without taboo". A way to point out that in matters of financing, in particular, no runway would be excluded for a public broadcasting without advertising. But in the spring, the presidential veto on an increase in the royalty, but claimed by a majority of the members of the commission, is a cold. "We were very favourable to the installation of this commission, which was a nice way out after the shock of January 8. But, after this "niet" presidential on the royalty, we felt that it was wrong on the funding component. "And the climate has deteriorated," admits, under cover of anonymity, a leader of the group.

In fact, this same June 25, Nicolas Sarkozy evokes its willingness to appoint himself President of France television formally, by a decree in Council of Ministers after notice in accordance with the CSA and raises a new outcry. Sign of the ambient excitement, an Inter-Union 10 organizations created after the announcement of the removal of advertising, and it continues to make common front nine months after the shock announcement. Jean-François Téaldi, a history of the CGT of France 3, became a very media spokesperson. "This is the first time that an Inter-Union takes several months in a row, no Union has slammed the door. "Above all, it won the battle of public opinion on the reform", he welcomed.

"It is having.

Baffled by the presidential projects, employees of France television could be alerted for a long time by the comments of Nicolas Sarkozy. "The French audiovisual landscape is sick, sick of a hyperréglementation." "If we return to power, and well we will have as a priority the freedom, and a true public service", he declared in... 1992 the political program "the hour of truth". The President of the Republic said and repeat: he wants to emerge powerful private audiovisual groups. "Understanding: to make gifts to TF1 over France television", not lacking to interpret unions and societies of journalists in the group, who see today is profiling the removal of advertising.

In the eyes of the head of State, this measure would yet another goal to clarify the tasks of public service of the group to strengthen. It is very reassuring, promising that every euro lost advertising will be fully offset by a public euro. But this speech does not satisfy in the cruise ship that serves as headquarters for France television. "It is having." Simply. Before the presidential election, the main issue was the chronic underfunding of France television. Today, we speak of simple financing to compensate for the loss of advertising... "Frankly, I am worried for the future," says an official of the group.

France 3 in the crosshairs

It is in France 3 that the concern is more palpable. The chain has weak points in the eyes of the Executive. It exacts a particularly heavy in France television since half of the employees of the Group a total of 11,000 5.300 work. With its 100 settlements and its 111 daily editions, its drafting account 1,600 journalists, against only 323 to France 2. Members of Parliament have constantly of

shout to the waste when they see a team of France 3, on a shoot, see France 2. "But they are thrilled to have our cameras when they are in the election campaign," said Audrey Pulvar, the presenter of the 19/20 on the string. Most importantly, its relations with the President of the Republic are not good: during the campaign and after the presidential election, the incidents have multiplied.

In the CGT of France 3, it is openly feared for the future of the chain. "The announcement of January 8 is more France 3 France television," is Jean-François Téaldi. "19/20 Has always resisted the pressure of powers, so they bored." The commission Copé wanted down France 3 by proposing to remove the national antenna and separating the string into seven regions. "Since its inception, was always intended to question the national writing, because it is seen as a breeding ground for leftists," he says.

Less radical, Audrey Pulvar does not hide his concern: "France 3 has an image of sobriety and rigor." Is its quality, but it is also the default, because some viewers have a dusty vision. "I do not think that Nicolas Sarkozy has particularly France 3 in his sights, but for him, is a secondary string", she said.

France 2 is not at rest. In February, for the first strike, 70 of journalists in the chain have followed the movement. "The never-seen, find Agnès Molinié.". It is the first time that a topic brings together as many journalists. "Since then, the mobilization is not lunatic: events before the National Assembly, host Committee heated for Nicolas Sarkozy when he comes to be interview in France 3 in June... "The employees show their concern, finds on the branch." But they must also understand that the environment moves and that the Group should reposition itself. "The world of creation, it also is mounted niche, concerned to bear the costs of budgetary restrictions. Their "appeal of June 2" from the théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, calls members of Parliament before the vote of the Act on public broadcasting, intended to move the Assembly in November.

Carolis belies his departure

In addition to the questions on the merits, the form also had its importance and "PAF" bruisse rumours. Since the spring, the mood is even electric. When is audiovisual, especially audiovisual public, it is true that the spirits are heated quickly, and the "small phrases" war raged. Thus, when Nicolas Sarkozy said not see any difference between the programming of the public and private, it attracted only surprising also scathing reaction of Patrick de Carolis, the Chairman of the Group: "Forgery, stupid and unfair, profoundly unjust", reply it at the beginning of July RTL microphone, involving the crossing his resignation in the balance, financial, "the account isn't there." Reaction greeted with relief in France television. In January, Patrick de Carolis had indeed hailed, after the announcement of the removal of advertising, the "clarification" of the economic model of the Group and the "validation" of its model editorial, taking a stand that was improperly passed internally. Since then, he was more cautious. But his future at the head of France television seems sometimes to hold to a thread. Thus, before the forum of global public television, organized last week in Arles, the rumour of his departure was again pressing. The former presenter of "Roots and wings" has vigorously denied it, stating to want to "be France television reform."

A member of Parliament "is the zeal".

The President of the Republic is not alone in taking on France television. When François Fillon considers, also, that the difference with the private sector is zero, or almost, the leaders of the group wonder openly if he looks at the public channels. In another register, the provocation, Frédéric Lefebvre, MP UMP, leader of the parliamentary Club of the audiovisual and known to be close to Nicolas Sarkozy, has made France Televisions one of his favourite subjects. Its proxy media attacks, claiming such an independent audit of France television perish for a finance group are under the close control of Bercy , make fly each time. "In my long career, I have known many members doing the zeal to please the power", relativizes, a bit disillusioned, a leader of the group.

For good to focus on his "difference", France Television took a perverse pleasure to launch during the summer, on its antennae, a campaign on this theme. Pragmatic, Patrick de Carolis has developed culture forward at a re-entry Conference that shined by its sobriety. History of well recall that the group is the only broadcast operas in early evening, and above all, that the quality of public service and the last in front of the creation, desired by the President of the Republic, have a price.