Arcom is reshuffling the TNT cards. After the reallocation of channels, it is the turn of channel numbering to be the subject of debate. With a major challenge for the chains: obtaining the best possible position in the spring.
This time, the media regulatory authority finds itself faced with an unprecedented problem. Since the creation of TNT in 2005, channels have been added in order of creation. But with the shutdown of France Ô in 2020, which occupied channel 2019, and the end of the broadcasting authorization of C8 and NRJ12 (who had the good idea of having their channel number in their name), a game of musical chairs begins.
Especially since everyone wants to take advantage of it to move up the list. The channel order has a slight effect on the audience, with viewers being able to get tired of switching to channel 27. And who says audience, means attractiveness for advertisers, and therefore revenue. Everyone has their own argument.
“Youth” and “info” block
It’s hard to imagine the top six channels changing, given their longevity and the fact that, again, most have a number in their title. Beyond that, all bets are off. The idea of a “news” block seems to be gaining ground among the various players, and would bring LCI and France Info (channels 26 and 27) closer to their competitors BFM and CNews, currently around 15th place. Roch-Olivier Maistre, boss of Arcom, responded to the Senate by affirming that he was “considering this proposal carefully”. A report on public broadcasting presented last week even suggests that France Info, in its capacity as a public channel and to compensate for its declining audiences, take first place in this future block.
M6 called for the creation of a “youth bloc”, which would bring together Gulli and France 4. Ideally, this would be located before the news channels, to protect them from anxiety-provoking content. Above all, it would allow the private channel to scrape a few places. As for the two new channels, OFTV and Libertés TV, the bets are off: will they take advantage of the holes in the racket left by C8 or NRJ12, or will they be relegated to the end of the new list of channels? Roch-Olivier Maistre’s last decision before leaving his position at Arcom at the start of 2025 will not only make people happy.
