For Jean-Louis Misika, media specialist and editorial manager of the think tank Terra Nova, the concentration of the media at work presents risks on the exposure of citizens to different points of view. The former administrator of the Iliad telecommunications group (2004-2008) and former deputy mayor of Paris (PS related) from 2008 to 2020 publishes, with digital specialist Henri Verdier, The Business of Hatred. Internet, democracy and social networks (Calmann-Lévy, Freedom of the mind, 304 pages, 19 euros), in bookstores on February 9.
Do current media concentration movements seem economically necessary to you?
How will the fact that TF1 and M6 merge allow them to finance pay-TV content that will be sold worldwide? The objective of this merger is to control 70% or 75% of the advertising market. This will allow the future group to increase prices, while lowering its production costs since it will be in a monopsony position. [un marché avec plusieurs offreurs et un seul demandeur].
Shareholders will be happy, that’s for sure. But it is not with this strategy of the besieged citadel that these groups will solve their problem: they are content to delay the deadline. While they could organize with other European media to create a platform capable of competing with Netflix.
Does Vivendi’s takeover of Lagardère seem to you as problematic as the TF1-M6 merger?
The danger is not the same. In one case, there is the risk of a form of soft control of a considerable number of news magazines and newspapers (broadcast on TF1, M6 and LCI), with two groups who do not intend to oppose power. In the other case, we are faced with a political project.
Between the politicization of one and the depoliticization of the other, the question that arises is that of diversity and pluralism. Should we consider that having four news channels in France [BFM-TV, CNews, Franceinfo et LCI] is enough ? Should we consider the emissions as those of MM. Hanouna and Praud, whose clashes are pushed by recommendation algorithms on social networks, as places where we exchange points of view? I do not believe that. Especially since from the moment a channel becomes an opinion channel, its competitors are forced to position themselves. It encourages polarization, dissensus.
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