French row grows over report calling for €1bn cuts to public broadcasting

A political row has intensified in France after a parliamentary inquiry report recommended sweeping cuts and restructuring for public broadcasting.

The report has drawn criticism from politicians and industry figures, who say it is politically motivated and impractical.

The inquiry was led by Charles Alloncle, an MP for the Union of the Right for the Republic, which is allied to Marine Le Pen's National Rally.

It recommends cutting the public broadcasting budget by 25%, closing or merging several channels, and reducing spending on entertainment, sport and youth programming.

The report also calls for the French president to directly nominate the heads of public broadcasting, with backing votes in parliament and the senate.

It follows six months of hearings that were described as acrimonious, with allegations of left-wing bias and financial waste levelled at France Télévisions and Radio France.

The proposals matter because public broadcasting is already a major issue in the run-up to next year's presidential election.

The National Rally has long argued that state media is biased against it, and the debate has become part of a wider argument over the future of tax-funded broadcasters.

According to the report, the public broadcasting system is "ill-adapted to the challenges of the modern era" and needs a "total or partial overhaul" of how it operates.

The recommendations include a one-third cut to television sports budgets and a large reduction in game shows.

France Télévisions, which includes four national TV channels and 24 regional channels, is a key financier of films and drama.

The report also targets Radio France, which is among the public sector broadcasters criticised in the inquiry findings.

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