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Last Tuesday Finance Minister Michel Sapin had raised the
possibility of letting loss-making public broadcasters air
advertising during prime time hours.
The suggestion sent share prices tumbling in private
broadcasters TF1, M6 and NextRadioTV and prompted them to write
to Prime Minister Manuel Valls to express their concern that
they risked being deprived of revenue.
Pellerin said in an interview with weekend newspaper Journal du
Dimanche that she took to heart their concerns and did not want
to weaken private broadcasters or other media.
"Private channels must have the means to contribute to the
diversity of news sources and program creation, especially in
terms of financing film," she said.
She said that a tax on owning a television, which is used to
finance public broadcasters, would be raised by one euro next
year, which she said was in line with inflation and the smallest
increase since 2008.
Meanwhile, a tax paid by internet service providers like Orange,
Iliad and Numericable-SFR would be raised to 1.2 percent of
their sales from 0.9 percent to help finance public
broadcasters, she said.
"Once again the sector is being treated as a cash cow," said a
spokeswoman for Orange.
The Socialist government is currently drafting the 2016 budget,
which it is due to present on Sept. 20.
(Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Additional reporting by Emmanuel
Jarry; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
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