More than 1 Radio France employees, including emblematic figures such as Léa Salamé and Nagui, are mobilizing against the proposed merger between Radio France and France Télévisions. In a column published by Le Monde this Wednesday, they denounce a government reform that they describe as “demagogic, ineffective and dangerous”. However, some voices believe that this reform could offer unprecedented opportunities for public broadcasting.
The government is proposing a “two-stage merger” of public broadcasting companies. From January 1, 2025, a joint holding company, named “France Médias”, will bring together France Télévisions, Radio France and INA. This transitional structure will be followed by a complete merger planned for January 2026. This ambitious project concerns some 16 employees. The National Assembly will examine this bill this Thursday and Friday, with a solemn vote scheduled for May 000, before a passage scheduled in the Senate on June 28.
The signatories of the forum warn of the dangers for democracy and the independence of public media. They recall that Radio France's antennas are listened to daily by more than fifteen million people, highlighting the exceptional strength of public service radio in France. According to them, the merger threatens this independence, in particular by the creation of a single CEO position with full powers, appointed by Arcom for a renewable mandate of five years.
They fear that this centralization will lead to standardization of content, with “the same faces and the same voices” broadcasting recycled content on television, radio and the Web. Radio France employees insist that their criteria are those of public service and not profit, which is essential for promoting culture and cultural diversity.
The government maintains that this merger would make savings and strengthen public broadcasting in the face of competition from international platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. However, Radio France employees dispute this argument, asserting that the merger of regions in 2016 did not reduce budgets but increased them. They predict that the merger of public broadcasting entities will result in high costs and increased complexity, without significant economic benefits.
The reform, defended by the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, is far from unanimous. As soon as he arrived in government, Dati took this issue head on, arguing that it is time to bring together the dispersed forces of public broadcasting to avoid their weakening in the face of the streaming giants. However, this project arouses tensions even within the presidential camp, particularly concerning the integration of France Médias Monde, which includes France 24 and RFI.
The Republicans and certain majority deputies demand that France Médias Monde be included in the project, while the National Rally is campaigning for a privatization of public media but could vote for the text if external broadcasting is not included. Le Modem supports the creation of a holding company but is opposed to a complete merger. The left, for its part, strongly criticizes the project, denouncing an attempt to weaken public service under the guise of reform.
The Radio France unions, supported by those of France Télévisions, INA and France Médias Monde, are calling for a strike on May 23 and 24. They fear that the reform will compromise the editorial and budgetary independence of Radio France, and criticize a merger considered long, complex and anxiety-provoking for employees, without any real clear editorial objective.
The unions highlight the current success of Radio France, the country's leading radio player both on the air and digital, with record audiences. They denounce an attempt to break a “tremendous success” and call for the preservation of an efficient public service acclaimed by the public.
Despite the numerous oppositions, some believe that the reform could offer opportunities for public broadcasting. The Minister of Culture Rachida Dati maintains that this grouping would make it possible to create a united front against streaming platforms, thus strengthening the capacity of public broadcasting to compete with giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Centralization could also allow for better allocation of resources and greater synergy between different entities, promoting innovation and adaptability in an ever-changing media landscape.
The reform of public broadcasting, carried out by the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, arouses strong opposition among employees of Radio France and beyond. They denounce a merger which they consider dangerous for the independence of the media, economically ineffective and harmful to cultural diversity. However, defenders of the reform see it as a unique opportunity to strengthen and modernize French public broadcasting, making it more competitive in the face of the challenges of the 21st century. The upcoming parliamentary debates and the mobilization of employees will be decisive for the future of this controversial project.
