Nicolas Sarkozy Bans Ads From French State TV

One of Nicolas Sarkozy's most visible, and most controversial, attempts to transform the French way of life will take effect from 8pm tonight. Advertising will vanish from prime-time on all state-owned television channels as part of an attempt by the President to create, in his own words, a public television service to "rival the quality of the BBC".

The abolition of prime-time commercials - part of a much bigger revolution in the French broadcast landscape - has provoked strikes by television journalists and a torrent of insults and allegations which transcend the usual political boundaries of right and left.

M. Sarkozy's critics allege that his true motive is to transfer part of the shrinking pot of advertising revenue to the privately-owned television channels. They also claim another part of his reform - the direct nomination of the boss of state-owned France Télévisions by the Elysée Palace - is a reversion to the bad, and dreary, old days of politically controlled French television.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[SnapShots]

Excellent move.

Yesterday CNN was simultaneously interviewing a Palestinian woman in the U.S. and her father in Gaza via the web. They got to the end of the 'segment' and the CNN anchor asked, "What do you each have to say to each other as father and daughter the father is trapped in this war zone? You have 10 seconds."

While advertising limits the time spent discussing major issues on U.S. MSM, Americans remain ignorant as stumps on most issues.

[AtheistUS]

Good move, Mr. Sarkozy. The less ads the better.

[tomas0808]

I was in Norway in the 70's and they didn't have advertisements on their TV. It was freaking wonderful

[thecanadian]

Good Move Mr S. Assume France trying to clean up the constant Media blitz and many times spewing hate at the time of an Election. Nice to watch a "news outlet".

[eus]

I was getting TV5 Monde thru Dish network but there were no adds because it was for foreign audiences. Very nice to watch TV with no ads.

[Peabodies]

So Mr. Sarkosy is the 42nd most popular person in France today. How does that compare to Mr. Bush's less than 20% popularity? Is Sarkosy twice as unpopular as Bush? I am confused. Help me out ...

[johnmorgan]

To me it seems like a great idea to ban advertising from TV. TV commercials are one of the many things which dumb down the American population. Every commercial is telling you not to think logically and just to buy.

[ErnestineBass]

IMO, no corporation that produces war materials (like GE) should be allowed to own a network.

Sarkozy's on the right track!

[trisha08]

Every time I hear or see his name, I can't help hearing Palin's voice saying, "You have such a lovely family. Tell your beautiful wife hello now, won't cha".

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[compulady]

Are they going to charge the French people 100 euros or so a year for the tv license like the british do?

[jymfrancais]

they already do..for many years

[CalverH]

LMAO

[lrthorne]

Oh wow! Can someone please bring this man to America and let him do something about the hideous state of our television programming???

[CalverH]

I don't know if it is the return of state-controlled television but if removing add and financial interests give the opportunity to have more educational, informative programs, remove reality -show etc .... That is all good

[Peabodies]

Yes, CalverH! Yes.

[Hirnlego]

Yes, we have it were I live. And those two channels are usually the only ones I watch if I ever watch.
There are way too many entertainment programs which quickly grow old and do not contribute to my life in any way other than a short time of escapism.

Entertainment has also poisoned the news media who now bring us infotainment. Sigh.

[Jamesdean]

The French newspapers are excellent, way way ahead of American, so I guess they can make their TV too as good as BBC.

[tchristin]

This is great news! Wouldn't it be nice if there were no ads on television news channels? or... Huff Post?

[cjk002]

Nah, where else would I find out how to increase the size of my p e n i s?

[lisa12345]

LMAO

[Hirnlego]

Internet ads are easy to avoid. I rarely even place my eyes on them. TV commercials however...cannot avoid.