‘Big Bang’ Proposed for French Radio

Michael Hedges March 1, 2004

A proposal moving through the French National Assembly could re-draw the entire FM radio landscape within the next four years.

In October 2003 National Assembly Deputy Pierre-Christophe Baguet, as part of his work with the parliamentary Commission on Cultural Affairs, advanced a new FM frequency allocation plan that would guarantee national networks coverage over all of France. All national networks would be preserved, with particular attention to national networks “of political and general information.”

National networks would be assigned a unique frequency throughout all France. Where technically impossible, adjacent frequencies would be used.

The report also recommended an end to the Télédiffusion de France (TDF) monopoly on distributing Radio France transmissions.

Big Bang

The proposal, referred to as the “Big Bang,” would redistribute the 6000 French FM frequencies in roughly equal thirds among public service broadcaster Radio France, the national commercial networks and independent stations.

Currently, commercial radio uses about 3000 FM frequencies with an additional 500 used by noncommercial community stations.

The report asked the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA) to study the technical feasibility of such a reallocation. CSA president Dominique Baudis told the commission that such a study was already planned for 2004. Baudis also expressed concern about the consequences such a reallocation could have for community radio stations.

Most national network broadcasters are clearly in favor of the plan.

Pierre Bellanger, president of Skyrock, told the Commission on Cultural Affairs that three out of four French people don’t receive the stations of their choosing.

“Apart from Paris, where every station is present, there is always a station missing,” said Bellanger. “The reform is essential in the interest of all.”

RTL has frequently complained, according Robin Leproux, president of the company, that it reaches only about two-thirds of France. Europe 1 has no FM frequency in about 50 cities.

Public service broadcaster Radio France also favors the plan.

For its part, NRJ Groupe remains cool to the proposal. Marc Pallin, president of NRJ Groupe, told the Commission that the proposal was not only “weak” but “utopian and disproportionate.” According to Pallin, the future of radio is digital.

Syndicat Interprofessionnel des Radios et Télévisions Indépendantes (SIRTI), which represents the interests of independent broadcasters, expressed opposition to the plan.

Speaking to the Commission on Cultural Affairs, SIRTI President Philippe Gault warned that the single frequency proposal would superprivilégiés (over-privilege) the current national networks, eliminating the possibility of new national or regional stations.

DAB development

The Baguet’s report, “New Challenges for Radio,” suggests that restructuring the FM band should go hand in hand with digital radio development, particularly opening the AM/MW band to Digital Radio Mondial (DRM).

It referred to DAB development as “extending the experimentation.”

Introducing the report, Baguet said it was advisable for France to make a “strong” political decision.

The Assemblée Nationale is set to finalize a package of legislation on the audio-visual sector, and all French radio broadcasters will face renewal of authorizations between 2006 and 2008.

In the past renewals have been automatic. It’s expected that new frequency structures and a digital radio policy will be implemented at that time.

Previously published in Radio World International, February 2004, in a slightly different form.

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