Four French terrestrial broadcasters – BFM TV, Direct 8, NRJ 12 and Direct Star – have asked for the suspension of the so-called ‘France Television-tax’ on advertising income.
The tax was introduced on the revenues of all the country’s private terrestrial broadcasters in order to compensate for the loss of advertising revenues on the public channels. However, today the Minister of Culture and Communication has announced a moratorium on the total suppression of advertising on France Televisions.
The broadcasters, which between them account for only 5% of the total advertising revenue, say the levy on the advertising income should now be abolished, as they continue to have to invest heavily in programming in order to better compete. Maintaining the tax would be counterproductive, the four claim.
