But new blows of theatre are not excluded

It is the arm of iron. The France Television Group and the Ministry of economy and finance are not agree on the name of the buyer of the advertising Board of the audiovisual group, France television advertising (FTP). Initiated last year and originally to be looped end of 2009, the recovery of 70 of the capital of FTP process advances more.

On the one hand, France television favours the offer called "media " and taken by the advertising Board on Internet Hi-media, an offer which has within the Southwest press group and the Telecom France Telecom operator. This preference is essentially explained by the pane strategic project, oriented towards all-Internet. Normal when we know both the weight of Hi-media in the field of Internet advertising (43.4 million euros of turnover in the first nine months of the year 2009, an increase of 4) and the future of FTP as it unfolds today, because, theoretically, the Board of France television market more advertising screens of the antennae of the group from late 2011, at the time of the extinction of the broadcast in analog. On the other hand, the Ministry of economy and finance favours the supply of financial LOV, the holding company of Stéphane Courbit, épaulé effectively by the Publicis group. The group chaired by Maurice Lévy course has arguments in the field of the marketing of advertising space through its subsidiary media & boards (Mediavision...), chaired by Simon Badinter. Both offers are on the financial and social plans, an important aspect because the Board has about 300 employees, but the industrial project of the duo financial LOV-Publicis is considered too heavy implement, are particularly to that of Me dia . Third candidate in "short list", the Group NextRadioTV (RMC, BFM, group O1) is considered to be lowest.

Dialogue of the deaf

For several weeks, Bercy and France Televisions seem stuck in a dialogue of the deaf, while the Elysee cautiously stands in the gap. The record is not considered important from a strictly economic point (the régie is valued between 10 and 20 million euros). Above all, it is considered as a source of trouble on the political level, given the context, since the privatisation of the régie is a consequence direct deletion of France television advertising, announced by Nicolas Sarkozy in person January 8, 2008 and effective - after 20 hours - since January 5, 2009.

Earlier this year, to the blocking of the situation, the Office of Christine Lagarde asked once again on France televisions to "reconsider" the offer of financial LOV-Publicis. But according to our information, the group chaired by Patrick de Carolis should maintain its preference for the project of Media . Allow FTP to move up a gear in the field of Internet advertising while, for the moment, its revenues in this area reach only a few million euros.

Harmful uncertainties

There is no question at this stage to freeze a process which, more drag in length, has known shots of theatre with the dramatic withdrawal of the Lagardère Group in December last (he had in fact been eliminated). But this delay is prejudicial to the régie, which accumulates the uncertainties about its future. For Patrick de Carolis, there is not question to leave the Presidency of France television - its current mandate expires in August 2010 - letting the employees of the régie to their fate. Less than two years of a major break in its revenues if the total abolition of advertising on day is confirmed for November 2011, FTP still unknown what group he adossera to be draw a future. In the best cases, the record shall be settled in the spring. But new blows of theatre are not excluded.