France

[FR] Conditions for Broadcasting Films on Television

IRIS 1998-3:1/17

Charlotte Vier

Légipresse

Following the agreement in spring 1997 between Canal Plus, the cinematographic industries' liaison office (Bureau de liaison des industries cinématographiques - BLIC) and the association of authors, directors and producers (Association des auteurs-réalisateurs-producteurs - ARP) on the principle of the channel being allowed to broadcast films on Friday evenings after 9 pm rather than after 11 pm as at present, the channel had asked the CSA to confirm the agreement by amending its convention.

The CSA has just given a positive response, after consulting all operators on the more general matter of broadcasting films on television. The CSA feels this consultation should continue, particularly in order to respond to the concern felt by the terrestrially-broadcast channels about the Canal Plus agreement. The cable and satellite channels are also concerned about the matter of access to broadcasting rights for French films before and after their first showing on Canal Plus, and by competition from those European channels which were subject to much more lenient systems. For its part, the CSA noted the very small number of French films being shown for the first time, compared with American films.