Current News Headlines

After one was missed, France Televisions has returned an offensive with hundreds of new programs. Taking risks assumed by Rémy Pflimlin, the CEO of the past year. It provides time to install new brands and develop its digital strategy.

The FIGARO. – What are your ambitions in terms of audiences for the group?

Remy PFLIMLIN. – The introduction of DTT has weakened the historic three channels and we have two. But France Television is not only judged on the hearings, as specified in the law. However, we must be the first French broadcasting group with our channel France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô. All must remain above the 30% audience share.

How do you explain the hearings erratic France 2?

For economic reasons, summer programs in France two were very different from those of the season. We have spent reruns and a program, "Five tourists" who have gone wrong. We dropped during the day and have paid cash. But with the return, the big appointment with Sophie Davant, Laurent and Stephane Bern Ruquier back.

France Televisions will invest 420 million euros in creation. Where do you get the money?

This amount represents an increase of twenty million euros a year. This is affordable in a cost grid for all channels 2 billion. To finance it, we will make arbitration on purchases and program flow.

You run one hundred new programs.Is it ambitious?

We offer 50 new programs on our five channels and 50 new regional programs of France 3. It is necessary to take risks because we absolutely need to innovate to install in the new period of strong brands as are a French village and more beautiful life.

Where's the advertising revenue?

We have budgeted 425 million euros in advertising revenue for the year 2011 against 440 million last year. In late August, we are still OK and I think we will hold the budget for the year.

You signed a contract with the State and sustain the revenue for five years. All can be challenged after the presidential elections?

We signed a contract objectives and resources with state ownership for five years on the basis of the strategic plan that we presented.For five years, the resources paid by the state are sustained and grow by 2 no teletrack payday loan.2% per year. In addition, our commercial revenues, advertising and diversification, we will be acquired. France Televisions thus acquires the necessary stability to build the company unique and long-term work with the world of creation. The company, the creators, the State and Parliament have an interest in maintaining that stability.

What is the social aspect?

We should sign in the coming days a collective agreement with the 2520 group of journalists and then we will negotiate the provisions concerning the technical and administrative staff, which represents 7,900 people. Over time, wages, hours and qualifications will be harmonized. This will have a cost but an investment that will pay off in productivity and simplified structure.In terms of attrition, which runs until 2012 and on 900 stations, we should see 550 starts, some of which permit and enable the recruitment of new skills including digital.

That represent the digital in five years?

The digital will be involved in the group. We will develop an information platform in November and another sports in spring 2012. Our role is to be an editor own content (information, drama, sport, culture …) that will become a commodity that we will provide all the screens. With the spread of television connected, it will be essential to have strong brands belong to us. Thus, we will not be dependent on American series to be broadcast directly by U.S. companies.

What is your position on the chains bonus?

On principle, I support the diversity of supply. On the economic front, although this is less about France Televisions, I note that many players call for a pause to allow to "digest" the introduction of DTT. With regard to the broadcast standard DVBT2, I have no principled position. But it is certainly worth, at this pivotal time, to ask any questions. For there is the issue of bonus channels, there are new channels announced, there is also the arrival of HD channels available. All this requires a resource that is often valuable, and called a real strategic choice. I look forward to the report of Michel Boyon.

ALSO READ:

"France TV devotes 20% of its budget to the creation

The debt crisis turns to Greek tragedy and psychodrama. Tuesday night, a committee of experts of Parliament in an official report revealed that the country's debt was "out of control." The next day, denial and criticism rang out, Evangelos Venizelos, the Finance Minister did not mince words, stating that these auditors did not have "neither the knowledge nor the experience nor the necessary responsibility to judge the debt ", a few hours later, the director of the parliamentary commission complained resigned.

Stock market crash

Friday, an additional layer was taken with the surprise announcement of the suspension for ten days, the mission started in Athens earlier this week by experts from the troika (EU, ECB and International Monetary Fund).This sudden departure caused an outcry in the country and the stock market plummeted at the opening, causing the European financial centers in its wake. The finance minister has tried to downplay the event: "There was no rupture of discussions between the country and the Troika," he said. But Evangelos Venizelos has failed to convince, especially as he admitted, following that "Greece will not hold its goals of reducing the public deficit in 2011 due to the deepening recession in the country. " GDP is forecast to decline by at least 5% this year, the government now provides, which leads mechanically to predict a deficit of 8.8% of GDP at end 2011, against a previous estimate of 7.4%.

It is a fact, almost a year and a half after the introduction of the first austerity plan, Greece is again up against the wall.The austerity measures have led to a sharp recession and sealed growth, competitiveness and production. The unemployment rate reached 16.6% last month. "The committee was right. The debt is really out of control because it is growing and will continue to grow, "Analysis Stefanos Manos, a former finance minister credit reports free. "It is sad to see that the government did nothing for months. No reform of the state system, not privatization, but only the imposition of taxes and cuts in wages! There are more public spending in 2009, before the crisis, he said. This time, it is urgent, bankruptcy is just around the nose. International leaders must tap your feet.They should refuse to grant the sixth installment of the loan of 110 billion euros granted to Greece if these measures are not implemented. "This is probably the direction of the departure of the troika, which means by this dramatic move to the pressure on the government.

But this game of poker liar weary Greeks who bear the brunt of austerity. Last significant extent, the increase in VAT in catering from 13 to 23%. "A step too far, according to Giorgos Delastik, a political analyst. The Greeks are exhausted. They think that especially in terms of rigor is not applied the right way to save their country from the crisis, just as Ireland and Portugal. "

Strikes and demonstrations were not long in coming. After the Athens metro and teachers, the outraged calls for a mobilization in Parliament tonight.Ilias Iliopoulos for general secretary of the union officials, the Greeks played their all. "We are on the verge of a social explosion," said he. "In 2010, when the deficit would be reduced by five points, the Greeks had to make huge sacrifices. Today, they can not accept other measures or new cuts on wages. " However, the troika request 2.5 billion savings by the end of the year. The authorities now fear having barely contain the anger of the Greeks, who was radicalized after the summer break.

ALSO READ:

"The Greek Parliament considers the debt out of control

"Greece: aid modalities still curled

"SPECIAL – crisis: the fear of debt

The people of the East Coast of the United States are preparing for a weekend out of the ordinary. In anticipation of Hurricane Irene, the authorities announced palsy or slowing of most means of transport that normally innervate New York Area. Once is not custom, the inhabitants of the Big Apple, including 250,000 living near the coast are being evacuated, will have to live in slow motion.

For security, the three New York airports – JFK, La Guardia and Newark – will be closed Saturday for aircraft arriving at noon (18 hours Paris time). The flights from these airports, however, may take off until further notice. This is an extraordinary disruption to an area that typically concentrates the air flow one of the densest in the world: each year, as many as 100 million passengers pass through this metropolis.This weekend, more than 8,000 flights should be canceled, according to the site FlightAware.com.

Like most of his counterparts, Air France announced Friday the cancellation of all flights to New York JFK on Saturday and Sunday, while disturbances are waiting on those provided to and from other cities the coast, like Washington, Philadelphia or Boston. The resumption of service, from Monday, could also be laborious and cause further disruption, have also warned the airlines.

Transport suspended

Measure more tangible for the people, public transport will be suspended in the Big Apple this Saturday from noon until probably Monday rush hour flexcheck cash advance. The subway, buses and railways do not circulate.Motorists have also been asked to leave their cars at home until the alert is lifted. If winds exceed this weekend 96 km / hour, the authorities of the State of New York have also warned they would close the main roads towards the city, and some bridges.

Given the restriction of transportation and possible damage caused by the passing of Irene, the inhabitants were ordered to stockpile water and food in preparation for the weekend. "Water is our product that sells best," noted the retailer Wal-Mart on Friday. Many are those who are armed with power generators in case of power failure.

To address these potential damages, the cost could rise to nearly $ 12 billion according to consulting firm Kinetic Analysis, U.S. authorities are preparing to deploy in new ways. 900 National Guardsmen and 2,500 workers in the electricity sector include ready to intervene in case of power failure. All these measures aim to avoid at all costs repeating a scenario to Katrina, the hurricane that was painfully struck New Orleans in 2005.

ALSO READ:

"Irene: mandatory evacuation for 250,000 New Yorkers

"VIDEO – The Northeast of the United States is preparing to face Irene

»COMPUTER GRAPHICS – View the destructive power of a hurricane

The race against time for Christmas toys began. The year 2011 is not easy. In addition to the rising price of raw materials, manufacturers and distributors must manage an additional constraint: the implementation, since July 20, the new European directive on toy safety. This significantly strengthens the requirements. So, in laboratories and offices, the list of requests made to the standards continues to grow … "The timing is not ideal compared to year-end holidays," says Stéphane Azoulai , Vice President Lansay.

The new directive, which replaces a text dating from 1988, strengthens the regulation, including through improved product traceability. Each toy must now be accompanied by his "identity card".Which identifies the entire production chain, from raw material origin to the name of the toy factory where it was manufactured. As for the 'CE' (European Community), it must be printed directly on the product or its label and not only on its packaging.

"The goal is to enable consumers to find out where the toy," says Serge Milon, toy expert at SGS, the world leader in inspection and certification. Mistrust has indeed increased in recent years, the list of suspect products (cadmium, phthalates …) have ceased to grow.

The Directive also takes into account the changing attitudes of children. The markings were made more accessible by using shorter sentences and more punchy ("choking," for example).The new text drummed cards especially among manufacturers, distributors and importers in an area where more than three quarters of the products are manufactured in China. The responsibility for quality and safety, is now shared paydayloan. It no longer lies only to manufacturers.

An implementation guide accompanies the 150-page directive to allow decoding risk analysis, monitoring records … If some importers or distributors may prefer a blind eye to the origin of a particular toy, they could now show zeal. Some will have to conduct additional inspections. "This is monstrous files to provide our clients, Stéphane Azoulai sorry.Some signs are up again test the toys in the laboratory. "

Advantage given to European manufacturers

The cost of the new standards, up from 10% to 20%, also changes the game. It takes 1,000 to 4,000 euros per product, depending on its level of sophistication. Products stored for more than three years must also board safety tests. "When 150 references, it starts to do a lot!" Stéphane Azoulai plague. "These high costs lead us to limit the depth of our range, adds Thierry Bertoux, CEO of Jemini, the French soft toys and furniture for children. It is easier for a multinational company to amortize these costs over several million pieces. "

Some companies have chosen to transform their organization to adapt to the regulations.At Lansay, one person was previously in charge of standards and procurement. A team will soon be established.

If it is more restrictive, the new regulations, however, gives a competitive advantage to European companies, "insofar as it creates barriers to entry," said Thierry Bertoux. "Making cost could lead to compromise at the expense of safety, says Serge Milon. It is a way to make quality and safety of products up by applying best practices. "

Apple becomes the world's largest "portable" across all categories, ie, taking into account both PCs and tablets. The Apple brand has sold 13.6 million against 9.7 million laptops for HP, relegated to second position. Apple has a performance to 10.7 million iPads that have been sold worldwide in the second quarter. 65% of this market.

In the past three months, sales of tablets exploded 400% to $ 16.4 million, while those of notebooks have eaten 2% to 48 million copies. "The growth of the market shelves beginning to be at the expense of laptops," said Richard Shim, analyst at Display Search Senio, thus justifying the merger of these two product categories in the studies.

And behind the two market leaders, the battle continues.Acer has recorded the largest decline, with sales volumes plunged by 12% in one year. The Taiwanese are heavily penalized by the failure of his tablets. However, Samsung and Dell posted the best gains, with growth of 44% and 33%.

ALSO READ:

"Apple has more cash than the U.S.

"Google buys Motorola to counter Apple

Treasury bills do not suffer from degradation of the note of the United States. Instead, rates remain historically low. U.S. finances are parties to drift, but investors have long known, and such a decision undermines their confidence in the ability of the United States to meet its repayments. "On the contrary, the threat of similar actions in other states has positive points: it encourages the ECB to carry more debt buyer of European public and invites States to precipitate the budgetary consolidation measures, which will strengthen intrinsic quality of government securities, "relativize Patrick Artus, Research Director of Studies and Natixis.

In fact, it is especially risky assets, which suffer from fears of contagion cuts ratings of sovereign debt payday loan.Evidenced by the plummeting global stock indexes following the shock announcement Standard & Poor's. Over the past five trading days, the Cac 40 lost almost 8%, and the index companies were affected differently. These are "primarily growth stocks" that have suffered the most, says Patrick Artus, "since the fall of 2400 billion over ten years the U.S. deficit will cost a point of growth the first year." Over the period, it is almost 70 billion euros in market capitalization went up in smoke. The equivalent (almost) the biggest company in France, namely Total!

"All global markets are wondering whether U.S. policy makers are able to compromise and reach agreement on the debt." Here is essentially what Sunday said the secretary general of the White House, Bill Daley. Adding that financial markets are prepared to live very stressful day, Bill Daley has brought into the hands of President Obama and Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner. Both said last night their will to reach agreement by Sunday night (Paris time), a few hours before the opening of Asian markets.

Just relieved on the question of the end of the Greek fire, after the adoption of a new plan Thursday to help Greece, all the concerns of operators should indeed focus on the United States, where elected Democrats and Republicans are still debating on what to do to reduce the U.S. debt. After another weekend of heated discussions, the status quo is always appreciated. Nine days is the time left now to senior U.S. policy makers to tune their violins. If no agreement is reached by Aug. 2 on raising the debt ceiling (about 14,300 billion) as well as budget cuts and additional taxes, the world's largest economy could be in default payment at the beginning of next month. Which would surely induce panic in the stock market.

Fear of a deterioration in the rating of sovereign debt

Even without going to default, the risk of a stock drop on the American question remains possible payday advance lenders. According to the White House, a simple short-term renewal of the debt (to which scenario we are heading according to Republican Senator Tom Coburn) could lead to a deterioration in the sovereign debt rating by U.S. rating agencies. These sanctions are rarely applauded the stock market, especially when they concern the world's largest economy. Waiting to see the Asian markets the first consequences of the new fruitless discussions of the weekend, analysts stress the importance of the issue to investors.

"The markets have liquidated" Friday, they had learned during the day the failure of negotiations between the White House and Republican opponents of a plan to reduce long-term deficits, said David Kotok, chairman of Cumberland Advisors. But now "the markets have had time to digest" and determination displayed by both others to avoid default is reassuring. Still, that nervousness should remain in force next week on the large world. After removal of the threat of the eurozone, the political debates around the indebtedness of Western countries have not yet finished obscure markets.

ALSO READ:

"INTERVIEW -" Maybe a good month of August on the stock market "

A lifeline to 158 billion euros. The Greek Government did not hide his relief on Friday. He said that local banks were now able to overcome the crisis and promised to accelerate reforms, fight against tax evasion and privatization in mind. The entourage of the Prime Minister insists that the country now has an obligation of result and ensures that it will manage to escape the nightmare of debt.

A view that is far from sharing all the Greeks. A good part of them remains in an attitude of rejection of "the dictatorship of the markets." For Giorgos Delastik, political analyst, "Europe has saved Greece and its banks but not the Greeks. The country is under the supervision of the EU budget and the IMF for many years. It is humiliating that Greece is so singled out. And Greece is a kind of European laboratory.Wage cuts and new taxes imposed, will be too soon in all countries without exception. "

The hope of a recovery

Point of the Brussels agreement, however, found favor in his eyes: "The most positive is that Europe keeps its promises to implement an economic recovery strategy." The compromise provides that Greece has a largest share of EU funding for development (the so-called "structural funds"). For the economist Alexandros Paparsenos, "is the best announcement of the summit. By reducing debt and injecting money into the development, financing of infrastructure and major projects, it gives people hope for a recovery.The rigor was not an option and now hopefully return to a positive growth rate early 2012, "said he.

As part of the compromise on Thursday night, the banks had to make sacrifices. In the Greek banking sector, the tone is at the discretion. "This decision removes the pressure on Greece and will allow him to return to the market in three years to borrow large sums," hopes the president of a major Greek bank, on condition of anonymity. "Instead of paying 14 billion euros in interest rates, or 6% of GDP, the country will pay 11.5 billion. By cons, now the government has no excuses, he says. The Europeans, creditors, the people, everyone made an effort. This requires that led George Papandreou promised reforms in a fair and especially the privatization program.He has to channel the discontent of the Greeks, some want to boycott the system, and it encourages us to lend to entrepreneurs to boost the economy. "

The risk of a new social explosion will be part of the challenge of the Papandreou government. After the indefinite strike of taxi drivers, other sectors such as marine and port workers, announced that they observe similar movements. The game will be tight.

In the first six months of the year, the European Central Bank, through the 17 national central banks in the euro area, has withdrawn from circulation approximately 296,000 counterfeit euro banknotes. A figure down 18.8%. As usual, these are the breaks of 20 and 50 euros that have been copied the most, with respectively 43 and 36% of counterfeit notes detected. Thus, the probability of having one day turn a fake is minimal, since currently, 15 billion euro banknotes circulating in the world with 13 billion in the hands of 330 million Europeans.

How to recognize a counterfeit bill? "First is the button: the ticket must be firm and crack when it is bent, and some inscriptions in relief is palpable. Then you look at it: we mark the traditional watermark, the black security, we detect signs of security by transparency, etc..And then tilts: the band or disc holographic silver toggles the face value and the € symbol, "said Francis Coustin, communications director of the Bank of France, stating that there are eight recognizable security features of immediately, then another series of signs visible with ultraviolet light, which traders often have, and finally other signs that only the European Central Bank and national central banks can detect. In all, there are 63! (See the interactive presentation of the security features of the ECB)

The ECB shall ensure consistently maintain its technological edge on the counterfeiters, who face risks thirty years' imprisonment and 450,000 euros fine. The Bank of France, also a civil party, does not claim a symbolic euro in damages.Within the Eurosystem, work is underway to develop a second series of euro banknotes, the theme will look like the current (see box).

A ticket is damaged, torn, not calcined is not lost

Think again if you think the ticket you just go to the machine, or your child has torn, is worthless. While it may legitimately be refused by your merchant, but the Bank of France, she will be able to replace them. In extreme cases – ticket sales, burned, burned, mutilated, wet, soft, bonded, etc.. – It is always possible to be "paid" but for a fee of 20%.

Francis Coustin the occasion of the exhibition Euro: the exhibition at the Cité des Sciences and Industry at La Villette (Paris XX) until September 4 – which comes in a fun way about the history of the euro, its manufacture, the security features of tickets, etc..- Chronicles the misadventures of people who burned their tickets, ensuring that parts of the Vatican, Monaco or San Marino (Italy) should be retained as they are rare … and therefore valuable, but warns, however, that collecting tickets francs (date of exchange limit, February 17, 2012) does not promise any profit, "they will be worth nothing then strictly."

Euro: the exhibition, organized for the first time in France, the European Central Bank and the Bank of France, has already attracted over 100,000 visitors in recent months in Europe, from Barcelona to Tallinn via Rome or Berlin.

Cotton in the mass circulation

• How does one manufacture a ticket?

To make the paper is bleached cotton fibers (only one note is made of cotton) in a water bath at high pressure and high temperature.The resulting pulp is then passed through a paper machine. To obtain the special paper, called Paper Trust, own bank notes, are incorporated in the paper some security features such as watermarks and security thread.

• Where do we manufacture the tickets?

In Europe, paper is supplied banknote paper to the fourteen high-security printers who print the euro banknotes in the European Union. In France, since 1915, tickets are no longer manufactured at Bercy, in Seine-et-Marne, but Chamalières (print) Auvergne – nothing to do with Valerie Giscard d'Estaing, who became finance minister from 1962 to 1966 -, and Vic-le-Comte (stationery). A year earlier, the Paris site was briefly occupied by the Germans, hence the decision to relocate the "safe" to an area less exposed.

• How many tickets are made in France?

In 2010, 2.45 billion tickets were delivered by the Manufacturing billest which 1738 billion euro, central banks outside the euro zone commander in France tickets. Every day, these are some 6.7 million tickets that are born in Auvergne.

• Where do the tickets then?

Once made, the tickets are sent to branches of the Banque de France equipped with crates. Then carriers (Brinks, etc.). Come back to supply banks, which themselves carry out their distributors, or retail, which brews each day astronomical amounts of cash, and merchants.

• How long does a ticket?

Tickets and circulate from hand to hand, and come back regularly and the Bank of France, which sorts all tickets at once, to put back into circulation as tickets safe and in good condition. To do this, sorting machines at high speed are used to check in a split second the authenticity of tickets. Notes unfit for circulation are destroyed and replaced.Finally, an average, the average life span of a 5 euro note is fourteen months and that of a ticket 50 euros for three and a half years.

• Some rules to know:

– A merchant has the right to deny him a ticket that looks suspicious, a merchant can refuse to cash more than 50 pieces in a single payment, a merchant has the right to refuse a big ticket for a small purchase: the customer must to the extra-A trader does not have the right to refuse display notes 100, 200 and 500 euros denying a legal tender banknotes is punishable under the Penal Code-If I a ticket printer or scanner, I am off-the-law.

The design of banknotes and coins

• Tickets continennent all a European monument and a bridge. But if some drawings look fiercely at a known site, none really exists.In December 1996 that ended the contest European models of the euro banknotes, which was won by Robert Kalina, designer of the National Bank of Austria. Gaphisme inspired by the architectural styles of seven periods in the history of European culture: the classic notes of € 5, the novel for those 10 euros, Gothic for 20euros, the Renaissance for 50 euros Baroque and Rococo for 100 euros, glass and steel to 200 euros, and the architecture of the twentieth century for 500 euros.

• As for parts, the idea was that they have a common European side (battery) and the national side (face). A European competition was then held to select the number of common sides. The winner was Luc Luycx, graphic designer at the Royal Belgian Mint. And in the end, the 17 countries of the euro area are some 136 different pieces move.The choice of the national side has done differently in each country. In Italy, the themes were selected by viewers of the Italian channel RAI. In monarchies, the effigies of kings were most often represented.

"Join the game" Rally France Euro 2011 for children aged 9 to 12 on www.euro.ecb.eu

ALSO READ:

"The French still addicted to cash

"We have 37 euros in your pocket

The Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR) announced Friday it had postponed to August 4 decision to initiate or not an investigation of the role played by Christine Lagarde in the case Tapie.

"One of the members of the commission has indicated that he was later forced to recuse himself," said Gerard Palisse, president of the petitions committee of the Court. This is Laurence Fradin, magistrate at the Court of Auditors and wife of Pierre Joxe, former Socialist Minister of Defense and the Interior of François Mitterrand, as was Bernard Tapie. Judicial source, the judge cited a possible conflict of interest.

Gerard Palisse stated that "the alternate member of the Court which could have us make up for his part that he himself was unable to do so immediately without prior knowledge of the case.The Committee decided to defer consideration of this matter Thursday, August 4. "

The survey would be long

The former Minister of Economy and current executive director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is suspected of "abuse of authority" in the arbitration in July 2008 on the case Tapie, Credit Lyonnais on line pay day loans. The businessman, who felt cheated after the sale of Adidas in 1993 with Credit Lyonnais, had obtained 285 million euros of public funds.

In May, the Attorney General of the Supreme Court, Jean-Louis Nadal, asked the petitions committee of the RGC to investigate the matter. He specifically criticized Christine Largarde for choosing private arbitration, but also refusing to appeal against the award, while the number of specialists are encouraged.If the Court decides to initiate the investigation, it should be long and Christine Lagarde would not be considered for several years. The new leader denies IMF, meanwhile, abuse of authority in this matter and have provided "clear conscience".

ALSO READ:

"GRAPHIC: Understanding the business Tapie, Credit Lyonnais

"Tapie case: the threat of an investigation continues

"Tapie case: what awaits Christine Lagarde