On the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival, the event’s former president Pierre Lescure spoke about the conflict between private and public channels. “I think it sucks to criticize public service for being brilliant,” the show’s columnist addressed. C for you during an interview with BFMTV.
A “pretty mediocre” private offense
The French private channels denounce the strategy of France Televisions that would go beyond what was assigned to the public service to usurp theirs. According to the media, the Association of Private Channels (ACP) -which includes TF1, M6, Canal + and BFM- sent a letter to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to criticize a situation that they consider unfair.
“It is evident that the public service has enjoyed, for several years, competitive advantages -significant compared to private groups- that question the clarity of their missions and their financing”, according to the letter cited by Le Figaro. Thus, France 2 in particular would develop “surprisingly commercial programming” according to the ACP letter.
“It is cartoonish to reproach the public service for fulfilling its missions by being brilliant, creative, renewing people and trying to find new formats,” says Pierre Lescure, who wins over private channels for the energy he expends in this “false battle”.
“The demanding exuberance” of public service
Since 2014, the media man who presided over the Cannes Film Festival for 9 years has been a columnist for the program Up to you Broadcast on France 5, a channel that is part of the France Télévisions group.
Source: BFM TV
