France Télé: "Michel Drucker will stay with us", promises Stéphane Sitbon-Gomez

From the shadow to the light.

At only 33 years old, Stéphane Sitbon-Gomez was named number 2 of France Televisions on Monday by its president, Delphine Ernotte, of which he was the chief of staff.

Reelected for a second term in July, she therefore chooses a faithful to succeed Takis Candilis.

Immersed in the world of television for five years, after starting his career at the age of 18 in politics as a collaborator of Cécile Duflot, the one who returns from paternity leave grants us his first interview.

You become the youngest boss of France Télévisions programs and antennas.

Is this the guarantee of a fresh wind on the antennas?

STÉPHANE SITBON-GOMEZ.

Age is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage.

With the digital revolution, the generational divide affects TV.

I never thought that it was necessary to engage in youth, but if I can help make a generational link, that our programs speak to everyone, including young people, it will be a great success!

Your appointment may surprise: you don't have the “classic” career of a television man…

For five years, I have held various positions of responsibility in the group, as chief of staff, where I was associated with the major reforms, from the launch of the France Info channel to the soap opera “Un si grand soleil”, and also as director of transformation where I carried the major digital projects.

I had the chance to work with Takis Candilis, from whom I learned a lot.

I managed France TV Studio, which notably produces the Lumni or “Télématin” courses… So I learned a lot about television!

And I will rely on an orchestra of professionals: I do not foresee a big change.

📢 The public media are yours.

France Télévisions is launching with @radiofrance, @ TV5monde, @France_MM, @Ina_audiovisuel a major citizen consultation # NosMédiasPublics

👫💬

Let's

invent the media of tomorrow together!

👉 https://t.co/ghSu2lMv0t pic.twitter.com/wbhWDZJADj

- France Televisions (@Francetele) September 7, 2020

What is your roadmap?

Thirty million people watch our antennas every day on all media.

We have three challenges: culture first, then creation - in fictions, documentaries and animation, to attract the best authors, screenwriters, and make memorable series -, and finally, diversity, for which I want a rapid action plan in accordance with Delphine Ernotte's wishes.

This year, we will achieve parity between men and women for the experts on our branches.

We are going to look for new faces that represent the country.

The French must recognize themselves in their TV.

Newsletter - Most of the news

Every morning, the news seen by Le Parisien

I'm registering

Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.

Learn more

What is your priority in a world of competition from platforms like Netflix?

They are our direct competitors, more than TF 1 or M 6!

One in two households has subscribed to a SVOD offer.

It's stimulating.

It's up to us to be creative where the platforms have taken a step ahead: on series, documentaries, especially as they seek to compete with us on the flow (entertainment, etc.).

Our role is the social bond: that people watch TV together, and not that they are locked in their bubble.

Public television belongs to the French.

We have just launched a second edition of the citizen consultation, and I will soon be launching a consultation with producers of fiction and entertainment on its future.

"I am careful not to break what works," promises Stéphane Sitbon-Gomez.

LP / Olivier Arandel  

What are the new things for the start of the school year?

It's the first comeback with the Tour de France, with magnificent audiences, then Roland-Garros.

In fiction, the series "Laetitia" arrives on September 21, it is a masterpiece adapted from the book of Ivan Jablonka.

We will have a big series on de Gaulle then on the young Voltaire.

The other novelty is the continuation of educational programs on France 4. We are also aiming for a good return to school in January.

I think TV should be more surprising, with more freshness, because that's where the platforms are competing with us.

The challenge is that each of our programs leaves a trace in memory.

France 4 must disappear on August 20, 2021. Is it final?

It is the government's decision.

We have a year to rethink our youth offering.

Will there be a transfer window in January?

We will ask ourselves all the questions, without taboos.

I am careful not to break what works.

I am part of the continuity of Takis Candilis.

With him, France Télévisions has taken giant strides in digital, audiences and creativity.

Will it be up to you to find a successor to Michel Drucker on Sunday?

No.

Michel is part of the DNA of public television.

It is rare in the world for a host who has more than fifty years of television and this link with the public, we want to preserve it.

He is with us and he will stay.

The longest time possible ?

I don't have a problem with that!

Thierry Ardisson will he come back?

He was an emblematic animator of the public service.

I can confirm that he offered us projects that we are studying.

The successor of Takis Candilis is already thinking about new formats dedicated to the environment.

LP / OA  

Have you set audience targets for Laurent Ruquier for his future talk show?

He offered us a new formula 100% live, very cultural.

We are confident.

And we will not spend our time looking at the audience curves!

"Le Grand Echiquier", on France 2, continues despite the low audiences?

Yes.

The next one is scheduled for October.

The real question is above all: how to offer more culture, and in what way?

“Sur le Front”, by Hugo Clément, migrates from France 2 to France 5. What place for the environment now?

France 5 will gradually evolve towards the chain of environmental awareness.

Broadcasting “On the front” is a first step, we are going to think about other formats.

Will you be launching games?

We already have a very large offer and it is not part of my objectives to increase it.

But I would like us to strengthen French creation in flow programs as well.

When is the “Salto” platform that you are launching with TF 1 and M 6?

In autumn.

I have been following this project for two years.

I will do everything to make it a success.