The decision fell on July 24. After months of deliberation, Arcom announced that it would not renew the TNT frequency of the NRJ12 channel, just like that of C8. The two channels will be forced to stop broadcasting in February 20225. In an interview with “Figaro” this Thursday, October 10, Jean-Paul Baudecroux, CEO and founder of the NRJ group, spoke for the first time about this decision. , which hit like a sledgehammer: “I was stunned, very shocked and saddened for the teams, in particular those of the channel and the group’s television division. We couldn’t have expected it. This decision is as serious and incomprehensible as it is unfair.”, he confides.
“Depriving young people of a channel like NRJ12 is pushing them towards the excesses of social networks”
“We still do not know what we are accused of, despite our requests as to the motivations for this decision.”. According to him, some analysts speak of a “collateral damage” in the decision also targeting C8, “probably because no one understands the decision that concerns us”, he believes. “NRJ 12 is one of the rare TNT channels which speaks to young people and which manages to retain the loyalty of the audience of 15-34 year olds, strategic for the future of the media. Everyone complains that television is getting old! This young audience is the one we must absolutely seek to retain, to ensure the renewal of the TV media audience.” he analyzes.. “Depriving young people of a channel like NRJ12 is pushing them towards the excesses of social networks.”
The absence of original programs on NRJ12, which has long subscribed to series rebroadcasts, in comparison with its competitors, could partly explain this decision. However, Jean-Paul Baudecroux says he has made commitments to renew his program schedule: “I was ready to break the bank!”, he assures. “When we were interviewed by the regulator in July, we made commitments on the volumes of new programs” he recalls. The boss also points out the impact on the advertising market and competition, while the disappearance of NRJ12 and C8 risks unbalancing the sector by strengthening the already dominant players, thus increasing advertising costs for advertisers.
“It is unlikely that the two new projects, even in the long term, will capture their audience, if only in view of the proposed editorial lines which will not attract the same audience” he explains, referring to the two new channels which will appear on DTT: OFTV, from the newspaper “Ouest-France” and Réels TV, CMI France group, owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. The first promises to be a general channel, with documentaries, a news and debate program every evening, and cultural programs in prime time. The second, the first national channel based outside Ile-de-France, will offer talk shows, documentaries and magazines to show “the real daily life of people”.
“If Arcom’s decision were upheld, for us, it would be an industrial accident”
Just like C8, the NRJ group attacked the Arcom decision before the Council of State, emphasizing the doubtful nature of the “preselection” channels. But if the action fails, Jean-Paul Baudecroux plans to sell Chérie 25. “Without NRJ 12 on TNT, Chérie 25 would face serious difficulties alone. The disappearance of NRJ12 from TNT will destabilize our entire TV division and its economic viability,” warns the CEO. As for a future for NRJ12 outside of TNT, the industrialist is categorical: “There is no viability possible outside of TNT.” “If NRJ12 disappears from DTT, it will be relegated very far in the distributors’ service plans, with a major impact on the audience and, consequently, on its turnover” explains the director of the group. In addition to the economic repercussions, around a hundred jobs are at stake. “Behind NRJ12, there are employees, there are teams. (…) In the event of withdrawal of our TNT frequency, given the disappearance of the synergies between NRJ12 and Chérie 25, we would be forced to consider the end of the NRJ group’s television division” he insists.
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Arcom’s decision thus places the NRJ group at a critical turning point in its history. According to the CEO, “NRJ, Chérie FM, Nostalgie, Rire & Chansons radio stations are listened to every day by 10 million French people. And that NRJ12 brought together in the first half of 2024, 5 million viewers per day and 33 million viewers per month”, we can read in the article. “The NRJ group is an example of French success in the media”, underlines Jean-Paul Baudecroux. “If Arcom’s decision were upheld, for us, it would be an industrial accident.”
