After the creation of a holding company in 2025, the government plans a pure and simple merger of public audiovisual companies on 1er January 2026, in an amendment which will be submitted to deputies during the examination of the text in committee from Tuesday May 14.
He is there “proposed a two-stage rapprochement”. “Creation at 1er January 2025 of a holding company at the head of a group bringing together France Télévisions, Radio France, France Médias Monde and INA »Then “the merger at 1er January 2026 of the subsidiaries within the company France Médias »explains the government in the presentation of this amendment to the text, one of twenty-eight that it has tabled.
“All property, rights and obligations” of these companies “are transferred to the company France Médias” with effect from 1er January 2026, details the government amendment of around twenty pages, tabled identically by the deputies Renaissance and Horizons, members of the presidential majority. It adds a new chapter to the menu of the Cultural Affairs Committee at first reading, from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday. The bill from the Senate, after its examination in committee, will be debated in the hemicycle of the National Assembly on May 23 and 24.
Opposition from unions
Calling for the creation of a “powerful pole”, the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, announced support for a rapid regrouping within a holding company. But it had maintained the vagueness regarding a possible further integration of the companies, which raises concerns within the sector. The Radio France unions have already expressed their opposition to “any form of merger” and are calling for a strike on these dates at the end of the month. Mme Dati, who wants to move quickly, plans to refocus the senatorial text on governance issues.
“The CEO of the company France Médias [sera] appointed for five years by Arcom »the audiovisual regulatory authority, “under the terms of a transparent, open, effective and non-discriminatory procedure”provides for another government amendment. “This reform of public broadcasting should make it possible to offer a richer offer, better highlighted on all broadcast channels so that it can be addressed to all French people”it is explained in particular.