NextFin news, Delphine Ernotte, president and CEO of France Télévisions, publicly appealed on Thursday, September 18, 2025, for stronger backing of France's public broadcasting sector. She highlighted the risks posed by the expanding media empire of billionaire Vincent Bolloré, warning that his influence threatens the independence and diversity of the French audiovisual landscape.
Speaking in Paris, Ernotte emphasized that the consolidation of media ownership under Bolloré's conglomerate undermines pluralism and the public service mission of broadcasters like France Télévisions. She urged policymakers, stakeholders, and the public to recognize the importance of maintaining a robust, independent public media system free from excessive private control.
Vincent Bolloré, a French billionaire businessman, has significantly expanded his media holdings over recent years, acquiring stakes in several major media outlets and broadcasting companies. This expansion has raised concerns among media professionals and public officials about the concentration of media power and its implications for editorial independence.
Ernotte's call comes amid ongoing debates in France about media ownership concentration and the role of public broadcasting in ensuring democratic access to information. She stressed that public broadcasters must be supported financially and politically to resist pressures from powerful private media groups.
The CEO also referenced past incidents where Bolloré's media group was accused of exerting undue influence over editorial content, citing investigations and reports that have documented attempts to shape media narratives. These concerns have fueled calls for regulatory measures to safeguard media pluralism.
France Télévisions, as the country's leading public broadcaster, operates multiple television channels and digital platforms, providing news, cultural programming, and entertainment to millions of viewers. Ernotte underscored the broadcaster's commitment to impartiality and public interest journalism, contrasting it with the commercial interests driving private media conglomerates.
Her appeal on Thursday aligns with broader European discussions about protecting public service media from market pressures and political interference. Ernotte concluded by urging a collective effort to preserve the independence and quality of public broadcasting for the benefit of French society.
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