I have already talked about Laurence Ferrari's JT (Journal Televise, or the TV news in France). I can't make anymore comments as I am not watching it anymore. I very rarely watch the news on TV but when I do so I watch the one from the public TV channel: France 2 (part of France Television, the "equivalent" of the BBC).
However I keep following the performance of Mrs Ferrari's audience, because the media, the newspapers talk about it all the time. That would never happen in the UK, but the news are not such a popular daily event in Britain. This TF1 JT is the most popular in Europe, and certainly the one from France 2 is not far behind. 6 months ago the JT on TF1 was seen by 38% of the people watching TV: this number has reduced to 30% with Laurence Ferrari in 3 months (which is still 8 millions)...hum, I am so glad that my first impression was correct and shared by so many French people. In comparison 22.5 % watch the JT on France 2, presented by David Pujadas (5.7 millions).
I have read recently that despite this bad performance Laurence Ferrari earns 70,000 Euros/months (slightly less than £57,000/month). In comparison David Pujadas makes "only" 12,000 Euros/months for the same job. And believe me this difference is not justified by the difference in their own performance !! And Mr Pujadas’ pay slip will not greatly improve in the future...At least it is my view. Let see why.
TF1 is owned by Martin Bouygues (yes the same company than Bouygues Telecom or the famous civil engineering and construction company). For information Martin Bouygues is a very close friend of Nicolas Sarkozy, he is even the godfather of its last son. Recently Mr Sarkozy (or let say the government that executes what he says) has decided to make the public TV free of ads. This instantaneously boosted the TF1 share price last January that was already in trouble.
So how will France Television get its funding now? via the TV licence of course (but this is far less than in the UK) and 3% of the advertising profits made by private TV’s will go to the government, which in return will give it back to France Television.
That is where the problem is: in the UK the BBC budget is fixed and decided after difficult discussions for 10 years, and no government in place can ever change it. That is what I call an independent TV. In France there is no such a thing and there is a risk that the budget of France Television (the 3% that should be paid directly ot France television) will depend of their attitude toward the government in place.
I am sorry for mr Jujadas but his salary is not about to go through the roof, despite the excellent job of his team and himself.
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