Just four months after its launch, concerns are being raised about the millions in State funding being used to back Monaco’s first public television station, TV Monaco.
The price tag for Monaco’s new public television channel came up for discussion in the National Council’s budget talks last month. At €24 million, a €9 million increase on the initial forecast, it was enough for elected officials to ask what exactly the money is to be used for.
The ambitious new station, which was launched on 1st September 2023 by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, broadcasts a range of programming in the French language, including news, talk shows, and documentaries designed to promote the Principality and Monaco’s culture. It is affiliated with France’s TV5Monde, which means its content is available in around 200 countries.
QUESTIONS LOOM
TV Monaco, which received a purpose-built studio in Fontvieille, is meant to be funded partly by the state, and partly through sales and advertising. Initially, this state funding was set at €15 million, but has inched up in the last few months, leading Franck Julien, Chair of the Finance and National Economy Committee, to say to Council, “The sum is greater than 1% of State expenditure, the budget is greater than four times that of the National Council. It is far from being negligible,” according to a report by Monaco Matin.
He went on to question other aspects of the large budget, pointing out that “There is a line item of €1.147 million for miscellaneous and unforeseen elements. Why already plan for the unforeseen when we are only at the beginning? We also have a line item of €8.5 million as far as programme purchases are concerned. That still seems quite enormous to me.”
On this, Minister of State Pierre Dartout, reportedly responded, “It is a channel which is starting (…) which will gradually grow, develop its audience and generate advertising revenue. This will compensate for the expenses.”
OTHER CRITICISMS
Other concerns include the station not being focused enough on Monaco, either in content or in management.
The channel’s general director, Nathalie Biancolli, told Monaco Matin, “Basically, TV Monaco is four months old and already has more than 120 talk shows to its credit, nearly 190 hours of new programs produced in Monaco, almost half of which are re-broadcast worldwide every day. While there is no question of resting on our laurels, I think that we have already contributed significantly to the Principality’s international influence. This is one of the foundations of TV Monaco and an obligation in its specifications, which it is keen to respect. At this stage, we have already launched nearly 500 hours of in-house productions which will be broadcast in the coming months.”
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Main photo source: Conseil National de Monaco