French president Nicolas Sarkozy, currently gadding around the Middle East trying to broker a cease fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, has banned prime time advertising on state-owned French TV channels France 2 and France 3 from tonight, a move which he says will help to create a French BBC.
His opponents, who include France Television’s boss Patrick de Carolis, say all he’s doing is trying to shuffle ad revenue off to his mates who run France’s privately-owned TV stations. Sarkozy is being “stupid and unjust” says de Carolis.
The French have always been jealous of the BBC, having failed to create a flagship, world-respected media entity of their own. In theory they’re in a great position to do so, being a powerful and influential nation and one which can provide a much-needed antidote to the Anglo-centric dominant international media organisations hailing from the United States and the UK.
But, as ever with Sarkozy, he comes across as rather the naughty schoolboy. Is he doing what he’s doing because he thinks it’s good thing or because it grabs him a few headlines, keeps in with his pals (he doesn’t actually have that many) or just satisfies his penchant for meddling and mischief-making?
Whatever happens in the short term to France Television pales into insignificance when put alongside the Middle East.
If he doesn’t get a result from his high profile trip (there’s already an EU delegation there including the French foreign minister) no amount of grandstanding at home will save him.