Television across Europe: Regulation, Policy and independence: France

The history of French broadcasting and the evolution of French politics have been intertwined for the past half-century, and can be divided into three main periods. In the 1960s, known as the decade of State television, the country's political machinery exerted tight control over broadcasting. However, as of 1968, when advertising was allowed on television, French broadcasting entered an era of commercialised State television. In 1982 the State monopoly on broadcasting was abolished and in 1986 private players were allowed to enter the broadcasting market. Today, broadcasting is apparently a dual public-private system, but in reality, it is dominated by one single private company