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WI
william Founding member
Franceinfo stuck with it for the first 45 minutes (then crashed out in the middle of a l'INA explainer for some reason).

I was watching France 2 on another screen and I was surprised they apparently did nothing for (at least) the first hour - just back-to-back episodes of Ça commence aujourd'hui .

Evelyne Sire-Marin (a leading magistrate) has been a (remote) guest on both franceinfo and BFM.

Meanwhile elsewhere, BBC, ITV and some US reports have all used the line that Sarkozy will be allowed to wear an electronic tag, however I've not seen any French media discuss this aspect at all (a bit of research suggests he first has to request it and then decision is made by a second judge).
BF
BFGArmy
BFMTV, CNEWS and LCI are all covering the sentencing of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, yet Franceinfo had an interview with a pre-booked guest on another topic and are now on pre-recorded padded features.


This seems to be the ongoing issue with Franceinfo - they can get as many plaudits on here as they like about their presentation but the channel too often seems wholly unequiiped for breaking news and seems to very rigidly stick to their pretty iffy format. A channel can look as nice as you want but its content still has to be fit for purpose.
LL
London Lite Founding member

I was watching France 2 on another screen and I was surprised they apparently did nothing for (at least) the first hour - just back-to-back episodes of Ça commence aujourd'hui .


That's due to Je t'aime, etc... taking a break as Daphne Burki has temporarily moved to present a live evening show on Culturebox, but was a very slow reaction from France Télévisions today.
william and Roger Darthwell gave kudos

16 days later

LL
London Lite Founding member
BFM have launched yet another local channel. BFM DICI serves the southern French Alps and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

The channel replaced D!CI TV which was acquired by Altice last summer.

The sub-opts are branded BFM Alpes or BFM Provence.
Last edited by London Lite on 17 March 2021 12:26pm
WW Update and Roger Darthwell gave kudos
RD
Roger Darthwell
BFM have launched yet another local channel. BFM DICI serves the southern French Alps and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

The channel replaced D!CI TV which was acquired by Altice last summer.

The sub-opts are branded BFM Alpes or BFM Provence.

Seems that BFM wants to emulate what they are doing in the USA, as far as I know that is where the local news channels idea started
MO
Mouseboy33
These local BFM channels and their resources will bolster the main network when there is regional breaking news that is worthy of being elevated national coverage and will be covered on the mothership BFMTV. So rather than solely relying on twitter pictures and eyewitnesses, they can also have their own news team immediately on scene. Apparently its not been a financial drain on BFMTV or they wouldnt continue to invest money in these channels. Smart move by BFMTV. They found a national format that works and now they have innovated local news channels across France and for their largest market, Paris. Which deserves to be covered extensively due to it being the national capital and having global importance.

Too bad Sky News couldnt figure that out for regional capitals of the UK and a channel for London.
Last edited by Mouseboy33 on 18 March 2021 5:17pm
LL
London Lite Founding member
These local BFM channels and their resources will bolster the main network when there is regional breaking news that is worthy of being elevated national coverage and will be covered on the mothership BFMTV. So rather than solely relying on twitter pictures and eyewitnesses, they can also have their own news team immediately on scene. Apparently its not been a financial drain on BFMTV or they wouldnt continue to invest money in these channels. Smart move by BFMTV. They found a national format that works and now they have innovated local news channels across France and for their largest market, Paris. Which deserves to be covered extensively due to it being the national capital and having global importance.


Remember that BFM Grand Lille and BFM Grand Littoral aren't even owned by Altice, they're a minority shareholder in those two stations, so the licence holder (who also operates Melody TV) is still operating those channels and presumably paying the staff for which BFMTV are able to use on the main channel for news in those parts of France along with a franchise deal. Some shrewd negotiations there!
Mouseboy33 and WW Update gave kudos
MO
Mouseboy33
These local BFM channels and their resources will bolster the main network when there is regional breaking news that is worthy of being elevated national coverage and will be covered on the mothership BFMTV. So rather than solely relying on twitter pictures and eyewitnesses, they can also have their own news team immediately on scene. Apparently its not been a financial drain on BFMTV or they wouldnt continue to invest money in these channels. Smart move by BFMTV. They found a national format that works and now they have innovated local news channels across France and for their largest market, Paris. Which deserves to be covered extensively due to it being the national capital and having global importance.


Remember that BFM Grand Lille and BFM Grand Littoral aren't even owned by Altice, they're a minority shareholder in those two stations, so the licence holder (who also operates Melody TV) is still operating those channels and presumably paying the staff for which BFMTV are able to use on the main channel for news in those parts of France along with a franchise deal. Some shrewd negotiations there!


Maybe UK tv needs some shrewd negotiators then. This situation is commonplace in the US to meet FCC ownership limits. For example WPIX NY was traditionally the sister stations of KTLA LA and WGN Chicago when it was all owned by Tribune Broadcasting. WPIX was sold off with the sale to Nexstar. But still is run by Nexstar under an operating agreement that was signed by new owner Nextstar and a 3rd party to fulfill FCC Rules. But WPIX is essentially a Nexstar station the ownership is different. Seems the same situation somewhat.
LL
London Lite Founding member
These local BFM channels and their resources will bolster the main network when there is regional breaking news that is worthy of being elevated national coverage and will be covered on the mothership BFMTV. So rather than solely relying on twitter pictures and eyewitnesses, they can also have their own news team immediately on scene. Apparently its not been a financial drain on BFMTV or they wouldnt continue to invest money in these channels. Smart move by BFMTV. They found a national format that works and now they have innovated local news channels across France and for their largest market, Paris. Which deserves to be covered extensively due to it being the national capital and having global importance.


Remember that BFM Grand Lille and BFM Grand Littoral aren't even owned by Altice, they're a minority shareholder in those two stations, so the licence holder (who also operates Melody TV) is still operating those channels and presumably paying the staff for which BFMTV are able to use on the main channel for news in those parts of France along with a franchise deal. Some shrewd negotiations there!


Maybe UK tv needs some shrewd negotiators then. This situation is commonplace in the US to meet FCC ownership limits. For example WPIX NY was traditionally the sister stations of KTLA LA and WGN Chicago when it was all owned by Tribune Broadcasting. WPIX was sold off with the sale to Nexstar. But still is run by Nexstar under an operating agreement that was signed by new owner Nextstar and a 3rd party to fulfill FCC Rules. But WPIX is essentially a Nexstar station the ownership is different. Seems the same situation somewhat.


Warehousing is common in UK commercial radio where some stations are owned by another company but the owner of the brand is effectively programming those stations.
LL
London Lite Founding member
The biggest shock on Franceinfo. Sophie Le Saint actually did her own show today!

I think it's the first time she's been on since November.
TheTravelcard and Roger Darthwell gave kudos
RD
Roger Darthwell
I have always wondered something, given that France Info is now a collaboration between France Télévisions and Radio France, could this eventually lead to a formal merger between the 2 broadcasters, a few months ago I read that there is apparently a plan to merge France Télévsions and Radio France into a single company called France Médias, but no news on that have been heard since
LL
London Lite Founding member
RTL in addition to selling their majority share in M6 are now looking to sell RTL's Belgian business.

https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2021/03/24/rtl-group-considers-sale-of-belgian-operations/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+broadbandtvnews+%28Broadband+TV+News%29

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