French terrestrial networks France 4 and France O will shut down on August 9, it has been confirmed.
The move first announced in June 2018 is part of a plan to save public broadcaster France Télévisions €160 million by 2022. In addition Radio France is required to save €20 million, and Arte and INA a further €10 million, bringing the total cuts on public broadcasting to €190 million.
The savings will be invested in the further development of digital and online services.
There are echoes of the move of BBC Three to broadband-only distribution. Like its UK counterpart, France 4 has targeted a younger audience and the instructions of the French culture secretary is to shift programmes for the young to online platforms.
To this end Okoo was launched in December 2019, taking over from prior brands Ludo and Zouzou.
France O, which operates overseas, must also look to online distribution.
