The government has announced that it wants to make 60 billion euros in the 2025 budget. And ten million euros could come from the reduction in a support fund for community radio stations. Enough to greatly worry these small structures, for whom subsidies represent a significant part of the budget. Some even fear for their sustainability.
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For them it is a “guillotine blow”. Community radio stations are concerned about the very significant drop announced in the 2025 budget in the fund that supports them. From an amount of 35.7 million euros in 2024, the Radio Expression Support Fund (FSER) would increase to 25.3 million euros in 2025, according to the finance bill presented by the government .
This reduction of ten million euros, if it is implemented, could have very significant consequences. In Reims (Marne), Radio Primitive is already worried about its future. “It can even lead to the death of the structure, worries Émilie Vigouroux, the director, interviewed this Monday, October 14, 2024. The FSER currently represents more than 40% of our resources.”
The radio broadcasts in Reims and around forty kilometers around on FM, it also broadcasts its antenna on its site. The station was born even before free radio was authorized, in 1981. By the end of the 1970s, it was already broadcasting in a pirate manner.
Radio Primitive can currently count on funding via the FSER of 60,000 euros per year. A sum which would be reduced by 25,000 euros from next year. “It’s more than a full-time equivalent. In a structure that has four employees, to imagine losing more than a quarter of its employees is enormous”indicates the director.
His station is obviously not the only one not able to imagine the future calmly. At RCF Reims-Ardennes, which has three employees, the announcements are also worrying. If Christian radio can count in particular on donations from individuals to meet its budget, the support fund represents a quarter of the revenue.
“It’s a terrible reduction for community radio stations. It’s going to be considerable, we don’t know how we’re going to do it. It’s very impactful”assures the president and director Jean-Pierre Benoit. He intends to alert the territory’s elected officials.
As of Friday, October 11, the organizations representing community radio stations asked the executive to modify its project. “We call on the government to review its position and re-establish support worthy of the importance of community radio for our society”pleaded the National Union of Free Radios (SNRL) and the National Confederation of Associative Radios (CNRA) in a press release.
These organizations denounce the scale of the savings requested. “This is not an economic plan, but a real guillotine move”they write. It must be said that of the 12 million euros in savings planned for the Media, Books and Cultural Industries mission, 10.4 million euros are borne by local radio stations, with the announced drop in support fund credits. However, they represent only 4% of the overall budget envelope, recalls the press release.
For community radio stations, the measure appears unfair. “The Radio Expression Support Fund is not a gift. There are very precise specifications. It is because we carry out missions which are of general interest to the community that we gives us money to operate”underlines Émilie Vigouroux, the director of Radio Primitive.
She recalls that her radio does not only provide her antenna. She also organizes media and information education workshops. “There are almost two full-time positions dedicated to these workshops. That’s nearly 200 workshops per year, more than 800 students each year who are with us.” Will they be able to continue with a greatly reduced budget?
To inform listeners, a message has already been posted online on the radio website and its social networks. The subject should also be raised on the air. “We try to be transparent in our operation, when good things happen to us or when more difficult things happen to us.”
Asked by AFP on Saturday October 12, the Ministry of Culture said on Saturday “very sensitive […] to the difficulties raised by these budgetary perspectives.” “The minister’s office (Rachida Dati) will receive the main community radio unions to discuss the consequences of this reduction”continued the ministry. Some 750 community radio stations are affected.
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