Progression of revenueAt constant perimeter i

An agreement was reached with the public authorities. France Televisions will be able to retain most of its advertising "Jackpot", after having produced in 2009 advertising revenue - only day - far superior to those provided in the initial budget. At the beginning of the year, the Group was 260 million of advertising for only marketed space revenues in day - advertising after 20 hours with was deleted January 5 - and on the Internet. Today, after a receipt which is very good place, it table of 360 million, or 100 million more! In July, Patrick de Carolis had indicated to the directors that the surplus would be $ 70 million. But since then, forecasts have still been exceeded. According to our information, the in-principle agreement with the State provides that France Televisions will retain approximately 60 million of the total amount of the prize pool. This sum - will which, in NET data, reach that big 50 million because certain obligations of the Group were revised upward to film - will be used to eliminate a part of the planned deficit this year, for the moment expected 135 million. The new 2009 France television budget must be presented on September 29 at the Board of Directors of the group.

Two logical opposite

Two logical clashed during this discussion that has been bitter. On the one hand, France Televisions intended to spend the money to reduce its deficit, on behalf of a "business logic" advocated firm foot by Patrick de Carolis, President. That group has been very aggressive on the commercial plan to sell its advertising during the day. For him, the revenue surplus was fully solve the deficit, France television, remaining in the red. "It is normal to leave France television the result of his performance," says a source near the group. The business plan by the Group and the Government for the years 2009 to 2012, France television should return to operational equilibrium and 2011. A net balance is expected that the year after (see chart). For the group, it was therefore imperative to use this unexpected windfall to return as soon as possible in the Green, then that everything has been made this year to maximize advertising revenues. In addition, the advertising Board had to show an image of dynamism, after the Club announcement, January 8, 2008, the Suppression of advertising on France Television antennas, with a view to the opening of its capital (see below).

On the other, the public authorities really intended it this ear. They wanted to spend this money for other priorities in the media and audiovisual funding, while projects abound, such as the launch of digital radio, to mention only one. "We had to find a rule safeguarding the interests of France television dans a maximum budgetary limits to the State", says a close source of discussions. By the end of the year, the State must pay 450 million France televisions to offset the shortfall advertising following the removal of advertising in the evening, effective since January 5. The European Commission has authorized the payment then that by launching an in-depth investigation, it intends to examine this new mode of financing of audiovisual French public scrutiny. This compensation should be amputated about 40 million.

Progression of revenue

At constant perimeter (i.e. taking into account the decision of the advertising in the evening, effective since January 5, 2009) from 2008, the advertising revenue of France television recorded an increase of 10. Almost a feat in an advertising market highly depressed, as shown in the performance of TF1 (-23) and M6 (-14) in the first half. Only disappointment for France Television: sponsorship revenue did not reach the desired results in reaching only 70 million euros, against 75 million provided by the group. For 2010, the group does not yet its advertising turnover forecast. End of 2011, the advertising should completely stop. But by then things can still change.