France considers international TV news channel

Reuters | Monday, March 24, 2003

[JohnHuang2]

France considers international TV news channel

PARIS (Reuters) - France has asked media groups to draft proposals for a French-language international television news service like CNN, BBC World and al-Jazeera, officials said Monday.

French authorities have been weighing such a venture for some time, seeing it as a means of spreading French influence, but want to press ahead even more since U.S. and British troops went to war in Iraq against Paris's wishes.

"What's happening at the moment only proves how useful it would be to have a French-language international channel," said Cabinet spokesman Jean-Francois Cope.

Officials said Prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin hoped to present options to President Jacques Chirac at the end of June and had asked media groups to come up with suggestions before April 22.

A four-page document drawn up by Raffarin's staff and seen by Reuters said the operation could be privately or publicly run, or possibly by both, and aided with state funds.

"The purpose is to ensure a more significant and visible presence for France in the worldwide TV pictures battle," the document said, adding that this would "contribute to a longer term strategy of French influence in the world."

The aim was to get the channel off the ground in 2004, with French as the dominant language, but possibly including Spanish and Arabic, the officials said.

[JohnHuang2]

Monday, March 24, 2003

Quote of the Day by Erasmus

[yonif]

Great, more mouthpieces for terrorists. Notice, they said like CNN and BBC.

[danneskjold]

France has asked media groups to draft proposals for a French-language international anti-American television news service like CNN, BBC World and al-Jazeera, officials said Monday.

Fixed it for them...

[yonif]

"The aim was to get the channel off the ground in 2004, with French as the dominant language, but possibly including Spanish and Arabic, the officials said."

Arabic?? Why am I not surprised!

[denydenydeny]

Al-Frogeera?

Al-Surrendeera?

[RippleFire]

BUMP

[Mister Baredog]

France considers international TV news channel

They would have to broadcast in English. There aren't enough French speakers left, or maybe they mean "international TV porno channel"?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Vichy TV?

[mewzilla]

I know what they can call it: CESMN.

[hgro]

The french surrender monkeys want to sell their dirty pictures and their retreat policies world wide. Even MSMBC will have better ratings.

[CFC__VRWC]

The french surrender monkeys want to sell their dirty pictures and their retreat policies world wide. Even MSMBC will have better ratings.

Maybe Donahue CAN get another gig.

[mewzilla]

Or Daschle.

[Willie Green]

Oh that's wunnerful.
Just what the world needs: Jerry Lewis movies dubbed in French, 24/7/365.
With my luck, the local cable company will probably make it part of their basic service package.

[Political Junkie Too]

But we already have nakednews.com.

-PJ

[JohnHuang2]

Re: #5 -- lol! You read my mind.

[Arpege92]

The french are so friggin arrogant! We go to war against France's wishes....who the hell does he think he is?

[Magnolia]

...the operation could be privately or publicly run, or possibly by both, and aided with state funds.

And it will be fair & balanced, right?

[SGCOS]

... seeing it as a means of spreading French influence,

I spread french influence every time I eat a can of beans.

[Cachelot]

international television news service like CNN, BBC World and al-Jazeera

They can just put French subtexts on al-Jazeera.