Opinion no. 2017-02 of January 18, 2017 on the draft amendment to the Radio France national program company's contract of objectives and means for the period 2015-2019.

In accordance with article 53 of French law no. 86-1067 of September 30, 1986 on freedom of communication, the French Superior Audiovisual Council (hereinafter: "the Council") is summoned to issue an opinion on a draft amendment to a contract of objectives and means (hereinafter: "COM") signed on April 21, 2016 by the French State and the national program company Radio France for the period 2015-2019.

This draft was approved by the company's Board of Directors on October 12, 2016 and transmitted to the Board on December 28, 2016. Its purpose, in accordance with the rendez-vous clause set out in objectives 11 and 13.3 of the COM, is to define the conditions for financing the renovation of means studios, on the basis of a programming study carried out by the company.

A study on the feasibility of renovation work was carried out by Radio France in 2015 and 2016, and a mission was entrusted to the Opérateur du patrimoine et des projets immobiliers de la culture (OPPIC).

Meeting in plenary session on January 18, 2017, the French Superior Audiovisual Council issued a favorable opinion on this rider, with the following observations.

I - On studio renovation

In addition to the objective of bringing the means studios up to standards, the Conseil approves the new prospects for promoting Radio France's production and expertise offered by these renovation works. Through its radio productions, Radio France plays a major role in supporting artistic, cultural and musical creation. In addition, these renovations will improve the reception of the public, particularly for certain emblematic programs such as Le masque et la plume on France Inter or Des papous dans la tête on France Culture.

The Board also endorses Radio France's decision to set up working groups to involve user representatives and in-house experts in the project, and notes the major efforts made by Radio France to keep staff informed about the work. It considers that these actions should be continued throughout the duration of the works. The work will be complex for the company, which will have to resort to alternative sites. In this respect, the social barometer provided for in the COM must be set up quickly.

The question of sizing production facilities and their operating potential must continue to be examined in depth. The initial text of the COM makes provision for " a study of radio production needs, the use of other available space and the business model for its operation, with a view to defining a renovation program for the means studios by the end of 2015 ". The rider also states that studies have already begun, and should continue throughout the duration of the works.

II - On the additional provisional financing plan

The renovation of the means studios is the subject of an additional financing plan for the period 2015-2022, proposed in the appendix to the draft amendment. It makes provision for a total cost of €67.5 million, including €32.5 million over the COM period (2015-2019). The French State will contribute 15.9 M€ to the work over the COM period alone.

The remainder will be financed by the company's cash flow and as part of the loan it has been authorized to take out under the COM.

The Board notes that the State's share of financing for the means studios over the COM period is lower than that planned for the rest of the rehabilitation project. It hopes that the additional efforts made by the company to finance this project, which were not provided for in the initial version of the COM, will not jeopardize its ability to break even in 2018. In this respect, the Board repeats its wish to receive all the annual reviews transmitted to the Board of Directors, necessary for the control entrusted to it by law. It also notes that the financing of the work to be carried out between 2020 and 2022 remains to be specified. The Board will be particularly vigilant to ensure that this financing is provided under conditions appropriate to the development of the public sector.

The present notice will be published in the Journal Officiel.

Paris, January 18, 2017

For the French Superior Audiovisual Council :

The Chairman,

Olivier SCHRAMECK