France’s Ministry of Culture has issued a new version of a DTT decree that governs the relations between TV channels and audiovisual producers.
According to Les Echos, the government backed down after criticism from the latter. It adds that the original version provided more flexibility to TV channels, despite them seeing it is not seeing it is favourable. Now, they see the new version of the decree as being completely unfavourable to them.
The main disagreement between the two parties is over rights. The original version of the decree said that channels could have co-production shares if the financing of an audiovisual work exceeded 50%. The figure currently stands at 70%, or 60% if the stakeholders can reach an agreement. The new version of the decree would set a figure of 60%.
Significantly, there has been no change in the new version of the decree to the share that applies to independent (outside) producers.
This will fall from 75% to 66% and could result in a potential loss of up to €160 million for the independent production sector.