21/09/2006

There has been a widespread reaction following the decision of TF1, France’s most powerful broadcaster, to abandon until later notice the Sunday evening broadcasting of films in prime time slots and replace these with series.

For over two weeks, the experiment has been following its course with contrasting results. The selected US series (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) is showing an 8% drop in market share in comparison to TF1’s average Sunday evening audience in the first seven months of 2006.

However, the broadcaster believes that series have an advantage over films, as they attract higher audience numbers (at a significantly lower cost). Competitors France 2 and France 3 have been airing a series in this Sunday evening slot for a long time.

In total, TF1 will broadcast only 65 films during prime time in 2006 (compared with 75 in 2005), a far cry from the ceiling established by the law (144 films per year). The network has assured, however, that it will continue to invest in the production of French features, in which it invested €47.7m in 2005 through co-production (€9.1m) and pre-sales (€38.6m) for 21 films.

Frustrated by the lack of consultation before TF1’s worrying decision, professional French cinema organisations have emphasised the outdated character of legislation currently banning the broadcasting of cinematic works on television on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. These comments seem to have been heard by Minister of Culture Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, who announced an examination into the role of films on television yesterday in Lyon during the 61st National Federation of French Cinemas Congress.

"The erosion of the broadcasting of French or European films on television stations can leave no one indifferent,” explained the Minister, who also used the occasion to mention the advancement of negotiations concerning the merger of satellite giants CanalSat and TPS (see article of February 17, 2006).

According to his statement, Canal+ (who has important investment obligations in the purchase of French and European films) would be prepared to complete the 59 commitments already made with public authorities, by signing an additional clause to the May 2004 agreement drawn up with film professionals.

(Translated from French)