Radio France is France’s public service radio broadcaster that was established in Paris in 1975. Today, it operates seven nationwide chains, including France Inter, its generalist station, the all-news channel France Info, France Culture, France Musique and France Bleu, which is a network of regional channels.
Media assets
Radio: France Inter, France Info, France Culture, France Musique, France Bleu, FIP, Mouv’
State Media Monitor Typology: Independent State-Funded and State-Managed (ISFM)
Ownership and governance
Radio France operates as a national company fully owned by the state. The president of Radio France is appointed by the Superior Audiovisual Council (CSA), the French media regulator controlled by state authorities (its seven members are appointed by the French President).
The main governing body at Radio France is a Board of Directors consisting of 13 members (including the President of the station) who all serve a five-year mandate. Of the 12 members (other than the station’s chair), four are appointed by the CSA, four are representatives of state bodies, two are MPs and two are staff representatives.
The President of Radio France also leads the executive management of the station, which is composed of three bodies: Comex or the executive committee (that makes decisions about strategic issues related to the company); Codiram or the Management of radio and Music (in charge of human resources); and Codor or the Management committee (that takes care of the daily operation of the station).
Source of funding and budget
More than 80% of the Radio France budget was accounted for by revenues from the license fee, contributed by all French citizens. This fee funded several public media in France. The remaining 20% is generated by Radio France through advertising and other commercial activities. In 2020, the public funding from the license fee, a total of €577.4m, accounted for over 88% of Radio France’s budget of €654.3m, according to an annual report from the company. In 2022, the station had a total budget of €566.4m; more than 83% of that amount was accounted for by the revenues from the fee, according to a company annual report.
Somewhat contradicting previous plans, the French government announced in May 2022 that it was planning to end the license fee, part of the election promise by President Emmanuel Macron to slash a raft of taxes. In summer 2022, the license fee was scrapped and replaced by a state budget subsidy, which is generated from VAT receipts.
Editorial independence
Radio France is known to be editorially independent. No evidence of government control at the station has been identified. There are no legal provisions obliging Radio France to favor the government in its programs.
There is no domestic statute as such guaranteeing the editorial independence of Radio France. The broadcaster’s independence is secured through its financing (which is contributed by the public) and through an unwritten agreement according to which authorities have no right to make requests of editorial nature from Radio France. Whenever some politicians try to influence the broadcaster, its management responds vigorously, reminding politicians that they have no say in the radio’s editorial affairs.
In 2017, Radio France created an ethics committee whose mission is to strengthen the freedom and independence of the broadcaster. The committee consists of five independent experts who are appointed for a period of three years.
September 2023