Peoples, listen to the signals

 
Column Paris wanted to incorporate TV5 into its foreign service. And failed due to resistance from Switzerland. 
Mid-April: France had just forced the director of the Francophone world broadcaster TV5 Monde to resign prematurely. The new organizational model for TV5 was to be adopted at the meeting in Paris that had been scheduled for the resignation. But the French sat alone at the table. The representatives of Switzerland, Canada, Belgium, the European cultural channel Arte and the delegates of the employee associations had left without having achieved anything. The new head of the French holding company France Monde had to present himself to the media in a meek manner. The holding company is to include the French news channel France24, the short-wave programs Radio France International and TV5. "We have been trying to talk to our francophone partner countries for two months. We are not succeeding," explained Alain de Pouzilhac. But the former journalist turned top official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot be quite so naïve. The Grande Nation has long since made unacceptable concessions, he must have thought. The French newspapers also reported on the anger of the francophone partners and demonstrated a great deal of understanding.TV5 is a gem. You can receive the channel almost anywhere in the world. With a bit of luck, you can watch the daily news on French-speaking Swiss television in New York when the Belgians are not on.
The French control 66% of TV5 and provide the program director. Canada, Switzerland and Belgium each have a blocking minority of 11.1%. Because French-speaking culture is still held in high esteem in many parts of the world, while that of France can change very quickly, the Grande Nation also benefits from this constellation. But the memory of this lost "grandeur" comes up again and again.
 
President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to merge all foreign channels. That makes sense. But at the same time, he wants only French to be spoken on France24 (CNN's competitor). English and Spanish will be abolished and, contrary to the original concept, Arabic will not be included at all. At Radio France International, the number of languages is to be drastically reduced. This has caused displeasure in the editorial offices and is also nonsensical from a diplomatic point of view. The francophone partner countries have only become more sensitive. They suspected that France was planning to replace TV5 in hotels and cable networks in major cities with France24 - not to mention the editorial influence exerted by the state holding company France Monde.
We know about Sarkozy's relationships with media bosses and the dependence of public broadcasters on the government. France is known to pursue its own interests in Africa and is involved in conflicts. The planned incorporation of TV5 Monde was therefore perceived as arrogance, an unfriendly annexation and a threat to editorial autonomy. To top it all off, the wife of Foreign Minister Kouchner, the former news presenter "Queen Christine" Ockrent, was to take over the overall supervision.
But Switzerland is standing in the way. Normally, the affairs of the French-speaking world are systematically underestimated and neglected in Swiss politics. This time, however, the request from a Neuchâtel socialist in parliament received a swift response: the Federal Council threatened to withdraw Switzerland from TV5. The "ultimatum from Bern" once again brought our country into the columns of the French press. The "empty chair policy" was successful. After the embarrassing meeting in Paris, a solution was reached surprisingly quickly. France relinquished its majority stake. TV5 Monde will not become a subsidiary of the French holding company - it will remain a partner with guaranteed independence. Incidentally, this is also better for France and its reputation in the world. The French are right in one respect: it is not just a question of mere receivability, but of Francophones in all countries actually tuning in to the channel. The lack of program quality can still be improved.
Jürg Altwegg is a correspondent for the Frankfurter Allgemeine in Geneva.