“I’m not going to tell you that I’m delighted to be here. » Swearing to say “the whole truth, nothing but the truth”, Yann Barthès, the host producer of the infotainment show “Quotidien”, broadcast on TMC (TF1 group), was interviewed at the National Assembly, Wednesday March 27, as part of the commission of inquiry into DTT frequencies. From the outset, the Haute-Savoie journalist expressed his dissatisfaction “to be summoned at the request of five deputies of the National Rally [RN] ». The request from far-right elected officials was accepted by the president of the commission, Quentin Bataillon (Renaissance, Loire).
“It’s an ironic moment that we are given to experience this morning”opined Laurent Bon, the co-producer, with Mr. Barthès, of the Bangumi company, given that the National Rally “boycotted, discredited and attacked the “Quotidien” teams for years”. “This commission of inquiry is not the place for settling scores with any political group”replied, dryly, the rapporteur Aurélien Saintoul (La France insoumise, Hauts-de-Seine) of a hearing at the end of which it is difficult to say that we have learned something new.
Saying ” proud “ to host a show with an editorial line and values “humanist, anti-racist, freedom and equality”, Mr. Barthès listed a few names among the 600 guests who came to the “Quotidien” set. He gave the example of the arrival of the actress Judith Godrèche and the author Vanessa Springora – both faces of the fight against sexual and gender-based violence –, the lawyer and former Minister of Justice Robert Badinter, the environmental activist Greta Thunberg, or even the former President of the United States Barack Obama. A former figure at Canal+, Mr. Barthès also explained that he left the channel in 2016, a year after its takeover by billionaire Vincent Bolloré, sensing “that a certain wind was turning”.
Conversely, no invitation from representatives of the RN on set: a decision “collective”assumed by the producers of the TMC infotainment show, while arguing that the rules for balancing speaking time set by the Audiovisual and Digital Communication Regulatory Authority (Arcom) were, however, “perfectly respected”. “All political sensibilities are expressed in the show. No training is ostracized”responded Ara Aprikian, deputy general director in charge of programs at TF1.
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