Gaëtan Bruel, President of the France’s National Cinema Centre (CNC), opened up Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous event in Le Havre with a staunch defense of the European model of funding film and TV, which he said was under attack from U.S. authorities. He also hinted at big news in terms of investment quotas, which are strongly opposed by the U.S.-owned streamers.
The CNC President defended the European model of TV production, distribution and funding. He characterized it as a mix of public and private broadcasters and platforms, and funding that protects the rights of creators and ensures locally-produced fare can thrive. He said that there have been “repeated attack against the model from the U.S. administration” and spoke of the “sovereign right to protect this [audiovisual] sector.”
The CNC chief added that over a dozen countries have investment obligations for streamers and that ten more are thinking about their introduction. He noted that Germany was among those weighing introducing such obligation and hinted an announcement is in the offing. “I believe there could be good news in the coming month,” he said.
Bruel was speaking before the French TV export figures are released later today (Tuesday). Those numbers are still under wraps but he noted the performance of French content internationally is remarkable “given the context.” He said: “The international context is it is very difficult for an audiovisual market that is marked by the restructuring of major companies and a decrease in the buying of programming.”
He did, however, strike a positive note about how French content is faring abroad, ahead of the export stats being presented. “There is strong momentum at a moment when the cards are being reshuffled at an international level,” he said.
The Rendez-Vous is the biggest market focused on French TV, with all of the major distribs in town and about 150 international buyers. Bruel was speaking at a new conference session that organizer, Unifrance, has introduced to take the temperature of the international biz from a French perspective,