Far-right privatization plans would destroy French public media, says France TV boss

• France Télévisions CEO Delphine Ernotte warned that the far-right National Rally's plan to privatize public media would effectively eliminate it.
• Ernotte stated her focus is on making France TV an independent firm that respects all political views.
• She supports merging France TV with public radio broadcaster Radio France to improve financial sustainability.
• Ernotte believes that coverage from Vincent Bolloré's media outlets aimed to undermine public broadcasting's credibility to push privatization.
• As head of the European Broadcasting Union, Ernotte wants to advocate for news to be considered critical infrastructure.
• Ernotte is seeking regulatory permission to reveal instances of foreign interference during election periods.

Delphine Ernotte, the head of France Télévisions, has warned that the far-right National Rally's pledge to privatize public media would lead to its destruction. With the party, led by Marine Le Pen, gaining political traction, Ernotte expressed concerns about the future of independent public broadcasting in France.

Ernotte stated in an interview that the National Rally's aim is to eliminate public media, which they accuse of promoting a progressive agenda. She drew parallels to populist regimes in Italy and the Czech Republic where public services are allegedly influenced or defunded. Despite the political climate, Ernotte emphasized her commitment to maintaining France TV's independence and serving all political spectrums.

The veteran executive, who has led France TV since 2015, highlighted the broadcaster's success in expanding its digital presence and producing popular content. However, she acknowledged the intense competition from private media and streamers, as well as the company's long-term financial challenges.

Ernotte expressed support for merging France TV with public radio broadcaster Radio France to create a more robust entity. She also addressed a recent parliamentary probe that recommended budget cuts and consolidation for public media, an outcome she disagreed with, believing it was intended to pave the way for privatization.

Ernotte suggested that coverage from media outlets owned by Vincent Bolloré, a right-wing billionaire, had contributed to negative sentiment and damaged France TV's credibility. The Bolloré-owned outlets defended their reporting on the parliamentary inquiry as a fundamental mission of any newsroom.

In her capacity as president of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Ernotte plans to advocate for news to be recognized as critical infrastructure across Europe. She aims to influence the review of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive to ensure prominent display of European content and fair remuneration for broadcasters whose content is used by platforms and AI. Additionally, Ernotte is seeking authorization to break pre-election reporting restrictions to expose foreign interference attempts during voting weekends.