Yves Bigot needs no introduction. Journalist, writer, director, producer… he has been at the helm of TV5MONDE for nearly 10 years. On the occasion of the Cannes Film Festival Market, where the Pavillon Afriques is being held for the third consecutive year, he agreed to share with us his vision of TV5MONDE's role and place in the African audiovisual and digital market. (Interview by Edouard Char)
How would you define your roadmap for your African programming policy?
At TV5MONDE, we offer African audiences both verified and reliable information on what is happening in the world and in each of the African countries, and we also bring the best of the culture of the countries that finance us: France, Belgium, Canada, Quebec, Switzerland, and Monaco… and the French-speaking world in general.
What we are seeking to do is to increasingly Africanize the TV5MONDE Afrique channel, both through the co-production of films and series and the production of documentaries and magazines specifically dedicated to Africa.
Of course, we broadcast the daily Journal Afrique, but we also publish a number of magazines produced in Dakar, Abidjan, and elsewhere, such as "Maternelles d'Afrique"
and our magazine produced in Abidjan on health issues on the continent. We also have two music magazines produced in West Africa and Paris on African music and a magazine on sustainable development produced in Senegal.
As I said, we are seeking to Africanize our channel as much as possible in order to be as close as possible to our viewers. A recent example: we co-produced three episodes of "400 millions de critiques,"
our cultural program, with RTI in Abidjan, which will be broadcast on TV5MONDE and RTI 1.
We always call on a commentator from the host channel, and on this occasion we had Eva Amani, who presents RTI's literary magazine.
We are working on many other things, such as our children's channel TIVI5,
which is doing very well as it is one of the top three youth channels and reaches 22 million young viewers in Africa, our lifestyle channel, our TV5MONDEPLUS platform, and digital offerings specific to African programs.
Conversely, we also promote African programs and artists on all our other channels, thereby raising awareness of Africa around the world. Your TV5MONDE-OIF fund has been increased by 25% this year, from €600,000 to €800,000. Do you intend to exceed €1 million next year?
(Laughs) Of course we're not against it!
The TV5MONDE-OIF fund was created on Canada's initiative when we launched the free global French-language platform, TV5MONDEPLUS. The idea was to use Canada's budget at the OIF to develop the range of African films, series, documentaries, short films, and animations on our platform.
France and Switzerland quickly followed suit, and Quebec has just decided to add €200,000. The aim of this fund is to support African co-productions. In the first year, we supported 19 works from 13 different African countries, and we are currently reviewing the second season
We have received just over 80 applications, of which around 50 are eligible and currently under review. Our goal is to make this offer sustainable, and we are considering not necessarily aiming for quantity, but perhaps better financing for projects to give them more quality and, we hope, more resonance and visibility.
You are a major player in promoting the French-speaking world. How are your African policies coordinated with all the other players in the market, such as ministries, UNESCO, the CNC, private players, etc.?
In fact, we all talk to each other, but there is no central coordinator. At TV5MONDE, we act in agreement with our French supervisory authorities: the Ministry of Culture and the Quai d'Orsay, as well as with the supervisory authorities of other partner states.
But we talk to everyone. For example, in Africa we are distributed by CANAL+, and CANAL+ Advertising handles our advertising sales in sub-Saharan Africa. We also work with Orange, MTN, Startimes and, of course, all the African public channels and even private ones such as B-One in Kinshasa.
But there is no super-coordination between all the players because we are often both partners and competitors at the same time
We are a public service, so we are here to work with everyone for the common good and, above all, for the good of viewers.
Is there any particular significance behind the appointment of the new director of TV5 Monde Afrique, Patrick Bofunda Illingo, who is originally from the DRC
? We didn't choose him for that reason, but it's great that it's the case.
As you know, Denise EPOTE has been promoted to the position of Director of Distribution/Marketing/Sales for TV5 Monde, and we needed someone to replace her, specifically for Africa. Patrick Bofunda has a very interesting background: he is much more involved in diplomacy and business—he is also a basketball fan—and the fact that he comes from the DRC is very positive because we tend to have people who are more familiar with West Africa than Central Africa.
The DRC is the country where we are most watched in the world—it is also the most populous—so it is a positive thing to have someone from the DRC in this position. Does this foreshadow a change in policy?
It is not a change at all, it is a reinforcement. Of course, Denise will continue to oversee Africa, as is necessary, and it greatly strengthens us to have two strong personalities managing Africa. If this helps to smooth and strengthen ties with the DRC, that's great.
We are six months away from the end of your term as CEO of TV5MONDE
.
Isn't it time to take stock of your work and identify areas of focus for the next term?
As far as taking stock is concerned, it's not up to me to do that. I'm happy with it, even if I'm not the best judge of myself.
As for the coming years, the challenges are clear and obviously digital. They are in fact set out in our current strategic plan: digital development across the globe on the one hand, and sustainable development and the environment on the other.
We are a global channel, but we are also the channel of the planet: in the fall, we will launch a very ambitious 90-minute magazine program on the planet's environment and sustainable development, led by Françoise Joly, our director of news.
In addition, the next term will necessarily be marked by the complex geopolitical developments taking place around the world. The West African region has been severely destabilized by jihadism and terrorism in recent years. The situation is terrible in Mali—where we continue to broadcast despite everything, unlike our colleagues at France24 and RFI, who remain banned—and we could say it is a little unusual in Guinea, Chad, and Burkina Faso. Even if there is not the same anti-French sentiment, there is still a shift taking place at the moment, a paradigm shift in West Africa, and for me or for someone else, this will be one of the major issues for the next term of office starting in 2023.
Is this also a declaration of candidacy
? In fact, you cannot run for this position: it is France that proposes a candidate to the five other states. What I can say is that, obviously, if I am asked, I will gladly accept because it is an exciting job and, obviously, after nine years in this position, I have a good grasp of the issues and the situation and, above all, I am aware of the very significant challenges that lie ahead.