A decision published on Tuesday December 10, 2024 by La Lettre. One of the BFMTV branches will close very soon.
It's the end of an era. Tuesday December 10, 2024, The Letter confirmed that one of BFMTV's antennas was going to close its doors. In service since 2016, BFMTV Paris Île-de-France will be closed from the first half of 2025. A decision made official in the presence of the media vice-president of CMA CGM, Nicolas de Tavernost, as well as Jean-Philippe Baille, general manager information delegate for BFMTV and RMC. Concerning the 27 journalists currently on permanent contracts, they must be reclassified, management told AFP. A decision taken because of the deficit generated by this antenna.
A channel which “has not found its financial balance”
Still according to information from The Letter, the group's nine other local channels “cumulate between 4 and 6 million euros in losses”, while the local branch of Île-de-France “has lost (alone) two to three million euros per year since its launch by Patrick Drahi and Alain Weill.” “It’s a channel that loses money, that has not found its financial balance. We are obliged to draw the consequences.” management confirmed to AFP. On the side of the SNJ, the national union of journalists, the astonishment was total.
“The employees learned it with dejection”
“The BFM Paris Île-de-France station would be threatened. After having undergone three reorganizations in four years, the employees learned with dejection this morning in the press…”, published on Twitter the SNJ. “While (he) repeatedly insisted on wanting to keep all employees, this transfer clause (open from October 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025, editor’s note) today seems to be disguised as a social plan for BFM Paris. She questions us on the group's ambitions for local branches”wrote the unions in a press release, referring to Rodolphe Saadé, the new shareholder of RMC BFM. Three other BFMTV antennas could see their staff reduced: BFM DICI (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), BFM Grand Littoral (Côte d'Opale and Maritime Flanders) and BFM Toulon Var. For the moment, there is no mention of closure. “For the moment, we are not going any further.” “Our ambition remains the same, to be a guarantee of proximity”, reassured management.
