Broadcasters Fight Institutional Inertia With Broom

Michael Hedges February 18, 2013 Follow on Twitter

Public broadcasting reform isn’t simple. There seems to be universal agreement, more or less, that the radio and television funded by and for the public is in need of a rethink, digital transition casting a new wave and economics another. Ideas are proposed, debated, changed and discarded. Nothing is easy but a good housecleaning helps.

At the end January France Télévisions president Rémy Pflimlin sacked the directors of all France Télévisions channels. Out are Jean Réveillon (France 2), François Guilbeau (France 3), Claude Esclatine (France O) and Emmanuelle Guilbart (France 4). Instead, a four-member committee led by digital chief Bruno Patino will manage the group. TV program managers within the new structure will continue to have autonomy, interestingly similar to the organigram under previous France Télévisions president Patrick de Carolis. But there will be one news director, Thierry Thuillier, and one finance chief, Martin Ajdari.

“The issue of advertising should be addressed again,” said M. Pflimlin to Les Echos (February 11). Advertising was removed, to a large extent, from French public television as part of reforms ordered by Nicolas Sarkozy, French President now retired. Current President François Hollande campaigned on reforming those reforms.

The French government is split on public TV advertising, budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac in favor of reversing the ad ban and culture minister Aurélie Filippetti opposed. After the public remarks by M. Pflimlin a clarification went out from France Télévisions saying he was really not in favor of ads returning to prime time but, rather, more flexible rules. Perhaps, for example, ads could be placed before and after televised “sports events in prime time,” because sports broadcasts are expensive.

Youth and young adult oriented France 4 will be “strengthened” as a children’s channel, said M. Pflimlin; a culture ministry demand. France Télévisions owns a minority stake in children’s channel Gulli and negotiations with majority shareholder Lagardère on a buy-out price have gone nowhere. Other public channels will face the music, depending on who calls the tune. Even with a €6 increase in the household license fee, France Télévisions is expected to lose €80 million this year. A few ads and fewer executives might help balance the budget.

Executive change is also in the air at UK public broadcaster BBC. Incoming Director General Tony Hall has yet to occupy the office officially but several new chiefs have been named with more to follow. Former BBC News Director Helen Boaden was announced as the next director of radio (February 14). James Purnell was named director of strategy. Tim Davie, currently acting DG and formerly head of radio, will have an “expanded role” at commercial arm BBC Worldwide when he takes over than division.

Ms Boaden “stepped aside” from the news director job amidst the uproar over former show host Jimmy Saville and decisions made or not made, which led to DG George Entwistle serving the shortest tenure in BBC history, 54 days. Mr. Purnell is a former culture minister under the previous Labour government and, equally brief, head of strategy for the BBC. Lord Hall, formerly BBC news director and more recently head of the Royal Opera, will take over April 2nd. A new BBC TV director, position vacated by Mr. Entwistle last September, and new news director, vacated by Ms Boaden, are yet to be announced.

Lord Hall’s mandate, widely reported, is to bring the BBC “back to the basics.” It’s a theme common to public broadcasters as management missteps, finance questions and “that vision thing” are unceasing fodder to critics. But institutional inertia is tough to fight.

See also in ftm Knowledge

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