A new business news channel is to launch in France. BSmart TV is backed by the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky through CMI France that will provide an investment of €5 million.
It will be run by journalist Stéphane Soumier, who presented the mid morning show on rival BFM Business for decade.
25 staff will maintain a schedule of seven hours of original programmes daily. BSmart TV will be free-to-air and advertising supported. Soumier tols an online press conference that the channel would “defend freedom of enterprise and liberal values”.
It will make its debut on July 9 on Bouygues Telecom and Orange and on July 23 for Canal+ subscribers. It will also be available through the Molotov television platform, but so far SFR, backed by BFM Business owner Altice, has so far not accepted carriage.
It’s anticipated the channel will be profitable within three years.
CMI France also runs magazines Elle, Marianne and Télé 7 Jours.
