Advertising ban in force: French state television broadcasts without interruption in the evening
As of Monday, French public television is no longer allowed to air commercials at night. However, the funding for this reform remains unclear. And, to cushion the impact of the financial crisis, France’s private media companies are now also calling for higher subsidies to offset the decline in the advertising market.
Since Monday, French state television has stopped broadcasting advertisements from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.. The first stage of the controversial initiative has come into force. However, concrete solutions for financing the reform are still uncertain. The government has guaranteed 450 million euros annually for the advertising losses. This sum is to be raised through additional levies on private broadcasters as well as landline, mobile and online providers. However, additional taxation would not be able to raise the entire sum, writes the NZZ on Friday. In addition, the advertising ban is to be extended to the whole day from 2012, which would mean a loss of revenue of 800 million euros - plus an estimated 400 million euros for the three hours of daily broadcasting time instead of advertising.
However, the government's ingenuity to finance these 1.2 billion euros is being challenged even further. This is because the French information press is now also calling on the state to increase its subsidies. French Culture Minister Christine Albanel was presented with a "Green Paper", a guide to overcoming the press crisis. French daily newspapers already receive millions in subsidies. These are to be increased. The state should also place more advertisements in order to partially compensate for the declining advertising market. The French President is expected to make a decision on this at the end of January.
However, the government's ingenuity to finance these 1.2 billion euros is being challenged even further. This is because the French information press is now also calling on the state to increase its subsidies. French Culture Minister Christine Albanel was presented with a "Green Paper", a guide to overcoming the press crisis. French daily newspapers already receive millions in subsidies. These are to be increased. The state should also place more advertisements in order to partially compensate for the declining advertising market. The French President is expected to make a decision on this at the end of January.
