Following the Commission's approval of a state-financed French language international television news network in June (see EurActiv 8 June 2005), the French Minister of Culture and Communication Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres announced on 30 November that the international francophone 24 hours news channel, called CFII (Chaîne française d'information internationale), will broadcast for the first time in 2006.
The day before, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin signed an agreement paving the way for the creation of CFII with the private French television company TF1 and the public service broadcasters France Télévisions, which will own 50% of CFII. CFII's financing will be 100% publicly financed, starting in 2006 with a planned budget of 65 million euros plus 30 million euros expected from the 2005 budget.
President Jacques Chirac launched the idea of creating a 'French CNN' in 2002 arguing that there is a crucial need for a "global francophone channel able to compete with the BBC or CNN". The 'CNN à la française' will broadcast in Europe, Africa and in the Middle East before expanding later to Asia, Latin America and North America. Its programme schedule will mainly consist of news, live shows and documentaries, which will not only be in French but also in English, Arabic and, at a later stage, in Spanish.
