Sarkozy Confirms Public TV Ad Ban

PARIS, June 26:
Advertising on French public broadcasting will begin to be removed starting in
January 2009, President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced, with a complete ban by
the end of 2011.

"France needs a
balance between public channels and private channels," Sarkozy said in a
speech yesterday. "We have to allow the private channels to develop and at
the same time we have to give France Télévisions the means of offering quality
programs to as many viewers as possible."

Sarkozy’s proposed
overhaul of French television will see a ban on advertising on public
television after 8 p.m. beginning January 1, 2009, to be phased out completely
within two years.

To fill the shortfall in
funding, France’s telcos and ISPs will be taxed, at a rate of 0.9 percent of
revenues, while commercial broadcasters will have to fork over about 3 percent
of their ad revenues. Those who will be hit by the levies are expected to lobby
for Sarkozy’s proposals to be opposed by the Parliament.

—By Mansha Daswani