French Superior Audiovisual Council opinion of July 13, 2010 on Radio France's draft contract of objectives and means for the period 2010 - 2014

In accordance with the provisions of article 53 of the amended law no. 86-1067 of September 30, 1986 on freedom of communication, the French Superior Audiovisual Council has been seized of the draft contract of objectives and means between the French State and Radio France for the period 2010-2014, and issues the following opinion.

1. The contract of objectives and means expresses the desire for major developments The contract emphasizes several points:

1. The editorial lines of Radio France's channels:

France Bleu is a remarkable success in terms of listenership; the program, which is attracting a growing number of listeners, is summoned to expand into new, densely populated areas. This desire to extend the France Bleu network raises two points. On the one hand, the Board has adopted a strategy of maximum exploitation of the available resource in terms of frequencies in analog mode; as a result, the frequencies still vacant in densely populated areas are becoming increasingly rare. On the other hand, priority reservation of new frequencies could lead to strong protests from private operators.

The contract makes provision for a relocation to Paris and an in-depth overhaul of Le Mouv''s editorial line. This new positioning can be performed as a response to the low ratings of the station's programs. The station is facing major difficulties in reaching its audience. While the first measure, relating to the Paris-only location of the network's head office, could improve the functioning of its various structures and strengthen the cohesion of the station, it is to be hoped that the development of a predominantly musical program towards a more generalist mix of news programmes, debates and music, as was planned when Mouv' was created, will also have a positive impact in terms of audience ratings.

Under the provisions of the contract, Radio France's management is determined to reposition FIP in terms of musical genres, focusing solely on jazz and classical music. Under the provisions of the contract, Radio France's management stated its intention to reposition FIP in terms of musical genres, focusing solely on jazz and classical music. However, the Board questions the relevance of Radio France's intended refocusing, which is at odds with the eclecticism and diversity of the musical genres previously presented on the channel.

The contract's editorial objectives are combined with a desire to strengthen program quality and improve audience ratings for the Radio France group's various stations.

2. Musical formations :

1. Definition of the missions of each of Radio France's musical groups, specifying their purpose and increasing their exposure on France Musique and France Inter;

2. The creation of an auditorium, scheduled to open in September 2013;

3. Greater diversity in the concert formulas on offer;

4. A commitment to an appealing pricing policy. One positive aspect is the desire to strengthen classical music exposure, with the creation of an auditorium, and to clarify the missions of each musical group. Establishing synergies between the various orchestras and the Radio France, France Musique and France Inter radio stations will enhance the value of these groups and attract new audiences to the concert halls.

2. In its ambitions, the contract of objectives and means is very close to the obligations set out in the specifications, but says little about the means used to achieve these objectives.

Most of the elements included in the contract take up obligations already included in Radio France's mission statement: reinforcing the musical and cultural action of the channels, developing links with foreign audiovisuel companies, investing in new technologies, among others.

The objectives presented in the contract (parts I to III in particular) are fairly neutral. Indeed, Radio France displays a strong desire to strengthen the missions already entrusted to it by its mission statement (affirmation of its educational mission, for example), and when a new objective is set, there are no real concrete measures proposed. By way of example, to promote on-air diversity, Radio France had already undertaken a number of actions to fight discrimination. It's good to see that this action is being continued and strengthened. Radio France's ambition is in line with the government's desire to promote the fight agains discrimination and equal opportunity. However, the contract could have specified the criteria used to enable listeners to appreciate in concrete terms the strengthening of diversity on the various stations.

In addition, with regard to the company's adaptation to new technologies (article 8 of the terms of reference), Radio France is proposing to make certain content from the national program company available to Internet users, by developing an "advanced and intelligent" multimedia player. In the Board's view, it would be appropriate for this player to be developed in collaboration with France Télévisions and the Institut national de l'audiovisuel, in order to rationalize its use.

The Board regrets that no precise financial estimates have been provided concerning the costs of the various objectives mentioned above. In this context, more precise quantified data would have been welcome. This is particularly the case for digital terrestrial radio, where greater ambition could be expressed.

Generally speaking, the stability of staff numbers and budgets is made out to be a major objective: in particular, it is made provision for the development of new activities to be carried out through the redeployment of personnel, without specifying the sectors in which staff numbers could be reduced as a result.

With the notable exception of the Maison de Radio France renovation project, for which the State's contribution is quantified, it is made provision for these new activities to be developed solely on the basis of self-financing by Radio France, to the exclusion of any additional funding from the State.

Similarly, the new resources envisaged in the contract for this development are not very detailed. Only advertising resources are forecast to increase by 3% per year: this objective may appear very ambitious in view of the regulatory constraints weighing on Radio France in terms of advertising, and in comparison with recent developments in these resources for the company (-1.3% in 2007-2008, -0.9% in 2008-2009).

The Board would like to receive an annual copy of the contract performance report, as forwarded to the committees of the two assemblies, for its information.

This notice will be published in the Journal officiel de la République française.

Paris, July 13th 2010.

For the French Superior Audiovisual Council: Le président, M. Boyon