French public television fears the end of advertising

French public media has gone on strike today, February 13th. They are protesting the President's plan to eliminate advertising from public television channels. "A public channel without advertising, with quality programming instead of spectacular diversions of all types? Yes, of course, yes three times over!" writes Fabrice Rousselot. "But here we are, and behind the great words, as is often the case, there is nothing. Without the money however, we can't have the public television of our dreams. Because the end of advertising isn't the end of ratings nor the renounciation of 'trash tv'. It's financing that allows us to take more risks, to present innovative programming, to develop new French television series. So it's up to Nicolas Sarkozy to provide the means to 'revolutionise' television without which we'll end up with the worst possible results of this decision, like lifeless public television."

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