Opening remarks by Roch-Olivier Maistre at Assises de la radio

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Ladies and Gentlemen, Presidents and Directors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear friends,

Along with all the members of the College, I'm delighted to see so many of you here this morning, responding to Arcom's June 18th summons: a historic day if ever there was one, as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day this year, to talk about the central role played by the medium of radio in our collective statements of case and our daily lives.

The Assises de la Radio, which we have had the pleasure of organizing since 2021, are an opportunity for all those interested in this now century-old medium to get together to share thoughts and analyses, and build a common horizon in the face of the unprecedented challenges besetting the audiovisual sphere.

In this respect, as you know, the 2024 edition is a little special, as Arcom is today publishing its White Paper on the future of radio. I announced the launch of this initiative, inspired by an identical initiative by our British friends, at a round-table discussion organized in the French senate in January 2023, devoted to the rollout of DAB+. At the time, we embarked on this vast project with the idea of taking stock of the radio medium in France, and tackling the major issue of the transition from FM to DAB+ diffusion throughout the country, both in mainland France and in the French overseas territories.

We set ourselves the goal of identifying the prerequisites and conditions for a successful transition, to enable the industry to project itself towards this medium- and long-term perspective, in the light of international examples.

After many months of work and consultation with all the players in the sector, through a wide-ranging series of hearings, we are now in a position to share the fruit of our reflections and the accompanying action plan. This goes to show how impatient we were, along with the entire Arcom team, and how happy and proud I am that we have succeeded in our ambition.

Before I even get to the content of this document, allow me to say a very warm word of thanks to the talented and patient artisans of this white paper. They brought this project to fruition at the same time as their already heavy workloads.

First of all, I'd like to thank Hervé Godechot, who needs no introduction here, and who has been deeply involved in this work, as well as Frédéric Bokobza, Deputy Managing Director and expert in the national and European dynamics of the radio media, who worked alongside Hervé to steer this major project. I would also like to underline the commitment of Arcom's Radio and Digital Audio Department, whose director François-Xavier Meslon and his deputy François-Xavier Bergot, who was the project manager, were involved throughout the preparation of the White Paper. As I said, the White Paper was an additional task entrusted to this department, which is also very busy in its day-to-day work, and I fully appreciate the commitment it entailed.

To support the departments concerned and draw up the report, Arcom called on the services of a talented rapporteur, who joined the team as soon as the project was launched, and whom I would like to thank on my own behalf and on behalf of the institution: Déborah Dadoun, a young magistrate at the National audit office and special advisor to the First President. She has proved that value does not wait for years!

Finally, I'd like to thank all the parties involved in drawing up this report, who have supported us in our reflections: radio industry professionals, of course, from both the public and private sectors, broadcasters, but also the Ministry of Culture, equipment manufacturers, distributors and our European counterparts.

Without revealing the content of the White Paper, which will be presented to you in a few moments by Hervé, I'd just like to take a quick look at the dynamics that have guided this project and the follow-up we hope to give it - or more precisely, that we hope you will give it.

This white paper aims to answer a simple question: what does the future hold for the radio medium? It recognizes that, despite its strong peak time ratings and the attachment of the French, radio today faces structural questions about its business model. In a way, it's at a crossroads. New growth drivers are emerging, such as podcasts and connected speakers, but new competitors have also emerged. Listenership is developing, fragmenting and declining, but confidence in the medium remains. FM, the tried-and-tested broadcasting method, is predominant, but has now reached its limits. Another, DAB+, has been rolling out for several years in Europe and France, including overseas France, with obvious advantages, but it still raises questions. Internet listening, meanwhile, is steadily increasing.

In this situation, the radio medium needs a clear horizon to project itself into the future and write a new chapter in its history.

To do this, it needs to move beyond uncertainty and prepare with confidence and determination for the shift to all-digital radio, in a context where the weight of Internet Protocol listening is summoned to grow. This shift must be within the scope of all audiences, who have demonstrated their loyalty to radio since the first broadcasts from the Eiffel Tower in 1921, and all radio stations, whose presence embodies richness and diversity.

This shift must also be carefully prepared: that's the whole purpose of this white paper. It proposes a clear strategy, backed up by a timetable and an analysis of needs, in the light of examples from our main European neighbors. It puts forward for public debate several measures to ensure the resilience of the radio business model over time. In short, it supplies a comprehensive inventory and a coherent roadmap.

What next? Everyone knows Balzac's warning against the risk of " disserting instead of acting ". As an auditor, I know that good reports are those that are transformed into action, into public policy, into concrete dynamics: those that are only a starting point, not a finishing line. We therefore hope that all the work accomplished in the service of this reflection will mobilize our entire radio ecosystem, with the support of the authorities, so that this medium, to which we are all so attached here, celebrates many more anniversaries.

As the White Paper makes clear, radio has been intrinsically linked to our country's 20th-century history, and we must ensure that it remains a major medium for the 21st century. The audiovisuel and digital regulator will play its full part in this effort, and will get down to work without delay on actions that fall within its competence. I'll say it here: Arcom will always be at operators' side to support them in their transformation, fostering a favorable environment, offering its expertise, listening to and relaying their doubts, questions and needs. But it's you who bring radio to life! Collectively, you are the ones who will steer radio's transition to all-digital!

A word about the program that awaits us, drawn up with the invaluable support of Didier Si Ammour, whom I'd like to thank:

• Hervé Godechot's presentation of our white paper will be followed by a round-table discussion on developments in radio broadcasting and listening, with Basma Bonnefoy, Pierre Boucard, Cécile Chambaudrie, Jean-Paul Dietsch and Justine Gheeraert.
• This will be followed by a presentation of foreign examples of DAB+ promotion, hosted by Eric Aldebrecht and Jacqueline Bierhorst.
• A second round-table discussion, also a direct follow-up to the White Paper, will be entitled "How to ensure the lasting success of DAB+". It will bring together Charles-Emmanuel Bon, Emmanuelle Le Goff, Alain Liberty, Florence Philbert and Christophe Schalk.

I'd like to extend my warmest thanks to all the speakers on this morning's panel for their time and commitment to Arcom, not only for the Assises de la Radio, but throughout the year. We are fortunate to be able to benefit this morning from their expertise and vision of the radio medium, which will be invaluable as we move forward collectively towards the new horizon of digital radio.

Because whatever happens, on this June 18, the flame of French radio will not be extinguished! Thank you for listening. I'll now hand over to Hervé.