Rapport annuel
Les annexes du rapport
Summary
CSA - Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel
Summary

Foreword

2009, the CSA deeply involved in the digital revolution and its challenges: Assessment and Outlook

CSA's Key 2009 Figures

CSA's Key 2009 Dates

Key 2009 Figures in the French Broadcasting Industry

 

Conseillers' (Board Members) Fields of specialization

Report on activities 2009 - summary

Foreword

In today’s broadcasting environment, -marked by the ubiquitous digital revolution, and largely global-, what role can the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel play? This annual report provides evidence that the Conseil’s missions are still meaningful to the industry, to the French public, and to French society at large, and even more so today than ever before. It also shows that the Conseil constantly adapts its regulation to rise to the technological and economic challenges brought about by this digital age, and to the cultural and societal expectations of the public.

Today, one of the Conseil’s primary missions is to bring technological innovation to all. It includes, in particular, switching-over to digital television, in the best possible conditions for the public, while ensuring that no geographical area is left behind. This has been facilitated by the law of 17 December 2009, passed to combat the digital divide, and which provides the Conseil with new means of action to guarantee equality among geographical areas. The ordonnance (order) of 26 August 2009, extending digital terrestrial television to outre-mer (French overseas départements and territoires), also helps in this regard.

For the Conseil, bringing innovation also means creating opportunities for new technologies for which the public has expressed a need. The coverage of high definition television continues to expand. As regards personal mobile television, a new step forward has been made, at the end of September 2009, when all selected channels signed and returned to the Conseil the legal agreements (conventions) in which they have entered with the Conseil.

As tasked under the law of 5 March 2007, the Conseil issued a call for tenders for digital terrestrial radio projects and, on 26 April 2009, selected candidates in three initial areas. The launch of digital terrestrial radio depends on progress in the work on financial and technical issues, but, also, on interested professionals being proactive, and on public authorities making a strong commitment. Radio cannot stand by the wayside as broadcasting becomes digital. Digital terrestrial radio is the best way for radio to participate in that development.

A new context thus emerges which the Conseil must anticipate. To this end, the Conseil opened two public consultations to take stock of the industry’s plans: one related to the use of airwaves; the other one, to new audiovisual services.

Providing opportunities for innovation also means adapting regulation applicable to on-demand audiovisual media services, -video-on-demand, catch-up TV-, as provided for in the law of 5 March 2009, so as to take into account their specificity, and protecting cultural and societal objectives deemed important by French viewers.

The Conseil continues to play an increasing role in French society. In addition to issues such as pluralism, ethics, and protection of young audiences, new issues have emerged, such as broadcasts being accessible to those with a visual or hearing impairment, society’s diversity being reflected, or combating obesity. In 2009, the Conseil took decisive action regarding these issues: a new principle regarding political pluralism was adopted, preparations for the practical implementation of sub-titling as a general rule were started, and renewed efforts were made regarding audio-description. It must also be noted, amongst other things, that a deliberation was adopted to set forth the commitments to be made by each television channel to improve the reflection of diversity, and that a Charter was signed to promote a healthy diet, and physical exercise, on television.

In today’s multimedia context, all contents must be taken into account when considering these societal issues. This is what the Conseil has endeavoured to do in its work on ethics, and on youth protection.

For audiences, contents have a societal value, but, also, a cultural, and an economic one. In the digital era, the latter continuously expands, as networks must offer an ever increasing number of works of a varied nature. Supporting creativity is, therefore, essential. The work carried out by the Conseil’s regarding the relationship between editors and distributors, the movement of works, and enhancing French and European works on on-demand services, is based on that very idea.

The creative vitality depends on the economic well-being of the entire industry. Far-reaching change is taking place in the French audiovisual industry: new players are emerging, concentration is taking place in free-to-air television, pay television is faced with the issue of regulating exclusivity, and the public audiovisual sector has undergone restructuring following a reform introduced by the law of 5 March 2009. Against such a backdrop, the Conseil must act as a stabilizer so as to enable public audiovisual broadcasting, private groups, as well as small and medium enterprises providing original work and technical services, i.e., the three pillars of French audiovisual broadcasting, to thrive.

A virtuous cycle must be created, so that dynamic domestic players may grow in both the private and public spheres, and so that rich and varied contents may be produced.

The Conseil is rising up to these new challenges with a newly appointed Board. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the work of those who have left the Authority, and convey to our new members our appreciation for their skills, which have already proved useful in 2009. Just as the Conseil’s actions develop to address all new issues in relation to all broadcasting media, the Conseil’s Board will benefit from the varied profiles of its new members. On 3 February 2009, the Conseil celebrated its 20th anniversary. The President of the Republic was present at the event, together with representatives of public authorities, and media industry professionals. Their presence was an acknowledgement of the Conseil’s ability to work in partnership with industry representatives, in the public’s interest, to serve the general interest. For audiences, television and radio are now available everywhere. In the spirit of the law of 5 March 2009, the Conseil’s remit must be further adapted to match these developments, and, thus, meet the public’s expectation that it also regulate audiovisual content on the Internet.

 

Michel BOYON
Chairman of the CSA

 

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