2024-04-24 14:10:06
AA / Tunis / Majdi Ismail
The French public audiovisual group TV5Monde is reportedly in discussions to open its capital to seven African states, the daily Le Monde revealed on Wednesday.
TV5Monde, whose capital is shared between public audiovisual companies from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Quebec and Monaco, included this measure – controversial – in its strategic plan for 2025-2028.
Thus, Benin, Gabon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo-Brazzaville could enter the capital of the chain.
The Director General of TV5 Monde, Yves Bigot, believes that it is essential that the channel opens up to the entire French-speaking world, affirming ”We cannot remain forever the channel of the French-speaking North without welcoming the sensitivities and the view of Africans”, reports Le Monde.
The media reaches 62 million viewers per week. It generates 80% of its audiences in Africa.
Mandated on December 8, 2023, by representatives of the various shareholder states, Yves Bigot has made numerous trips to Africa in recent months, with the director of marketing, distribution and commercialization of TV5Monde, Denise Epoté.
He was received in audience by Denis Sassou Nguesso, the president of the Republic of Congo, and Félix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Yves Bigot also went to Gabon on Monday April 22 to discuss with General Brice Oligui Nguema, president of the transition.
An official press release from the Gabonese presidency specifies that ”It will be a question of Gabonese public television integrating the said platform in order to see its programs broadcast on the various partner channels and to make it more visible on an international scale. executive action”.
For 2024, the channel’s budget amounts to 124 million euros, the seven targeted states are offered the possibility of sitting on a rotating basis on the board of directors of TV5Monde in return for a financial participation of up to 600 000 euros per year and per country.
Internally, the potential arrival of certain States as shareholders raises questions and fears about the independence of the editorial line and the correspondents.
”By signing our fundamental charter, they undertake vis-à-vis our six current shareholder States to respect it entirely, including the independence of the editorial staff and the correspondents,” assures Yves Bigot, while remaining evasive on concrete measures in the event of external pressure.
According to Le Monde, neither the Quai d’Orsay nor the Ministry of Culture responded to its questions.
The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, could officially announce the evolution of TV5Monde’s shareholding during the Francophonie summit, scheduled for Villers-Cotterêts (Aisne) and Paris in October.
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