French debate audvisual reform
Trautmann legislation to be heard by Nat'l Assembly
The weighty document, whose seemingly interminable gestation has caused labor pains for the minister and damaged her reputation, was admitted to the National Assembly Wednesday to be heard during the third week of May.
The major points of the reform -- which has had most French television execs wary of its arrival -- have the biggest effect on pubcasters and appear to throw a bone to the private webs.
Under the proposed legislation, France Television, now comprising national nets France 2 and France 3, would take the educational and cultural service La Cinquieme-Arte under its umbrella.
The newly formed holding company would then be overseen by a president nominated by France's Conseil Superieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA). Industry speculation says sitting president Xavier Gouyou-Beauchamps will not be re-elected, though the only candidate to throw his hat in the ring so far is La Cinquieme-Arte president Jerome Clement, who announced his run at last week's MIP-TV market.
In 1998, Trautmann said she would push for the reduction of ad time to the public stations from 12 minutes an hour to five. But the legislation now being put forth allows for eight minutes of commercial time per hour.
Curiously, the reform laws don't impose a tax on private webs TF1 and M6, which are clearly set to benefit from advertisers who will be in search of outlets, once the pubcasters' doors close to them.
