TF1

The most valuable person at allegedly the most-viewed European channel is Martin Bouygues (see below). The billionaire owns 43.4 percent of shares via his Bouygues Group, which puts him as the major shareholder. Indeed, the remaining capital is quite diluted between employees and investors, French and foreign. It should be noted that the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock Group, owns 2.5 percent of the channel.

TF1 is allegedly the most-viewed channel of Europe. Along with the entertaining programs, sporting event and breakings news are broadcast. Its news program is the most-watched in France.

The number one of the French media landscape appeared in 1975 following the fracture of ORTF (formerly a French broadcasting agency), and now belongs to Martin Bouygues. The billionaire is a close friend of the previous French president, Nicolas Sarkozy.

TF1 is often blamed of being right-wing oriented and of protecting the interests of its owner (see ‘Controversies’). The dismissals of several famous employees of the channel, including the famous 8-o’clock news show anchor Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, raised a suspicion about the relationship between Martin Bouygues and the right-wing power which governed at that time.

In charge of Bouygues group inherited from his father, Martin succeeded in turning his legacy to good account. Today he is in charge of a whole empire, which includes construction, telecom and media businesses. The major shareholder at TF1, the billionaire enjoys a place of honor in the French broadcasting landscape.

He is sometimes criticized for his close relationship with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Martin Bouygues was a witness at the Republican leader’s marriage to Cecilia. He shared this role with LVMH boss and richest Frenchman, Bernard Arnault. The owner of TF1 is also the godfather of former French leader’s son — Louis Sarkozy.

AFP announced his death by mistake on February 28, 2015. This incident provoked several dismissals within the famous press agency. At the time, some accused Martin Bouygues of having got the heads of those who were held accountable for the mistake, by putting pressure on the decision makers.

A graduate of the Institut d’étude politique (Institute of Political Studies), Nonce Paolini acquired his experience within Bouygues group. Having become Bouygues Télécom’s managing director in 2004, he continued his career in the group’s media sphere. In 2008 he became CEO at TF1, succeeding Patrick Le Lay.

TF1’s chairman is quite well-paid and sees himself in the rank of the richest French bosses (€ 2,361,037 for 2014). Under his leadership, the channel has experienced major changes. In particular, he is responsible for the departure of two star news anchors, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor and Claire Chazal. He argues on this matter: "I would like to remain in people’s memory as someone who revolutionized information and not as someone who introduced reality TV with Secret Story."

As Bouygues’ boss, Paolini is suspected of acquaintances with the right-wing power base. Fired from TF1 News program in 2008, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor argues his scalp was claimed by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. According to Poivre, the French leader did not take kindly to being compared to a "small boy" during an interview. The journalist accused Paolini of having asked Patrick Buisson, a former Sarkozy adviser, to "submit to the head of State a plan for his slipping out."

TF1 is often labeled as a liberal right-wing channel. This story is not new, because in 1995 the channel was accused of promoting the presidential election campaign of Edouard Balladur. Since then, a large number of surveys have contributed to the strengthening of the legend. In 2009, TF1 fired its web innovation hub manager, Jérôme Bourreau-Guggenheim. The move was allegedly due to some criticism he had voiced towards the HADOPI law. He wrote an e-mail to his MP Françoise de Panafieu to complain. This mail would have caused some turbulence within the government, which later complained to TF1. The very close relationship between Bouygues and Sarkozy could have fueled suspicions that the channel has a right-wing approach.

In 2011, an investigation into "corruption" and "favouritism" began, concerning the way in which Bouygues was awarded the tender to construct the new Defense Ministry premises. This giant complex situated in Balard, in Paris, is already hosting some workers, but there are still questions around its construction. And Bouygues Construction is still under suspicion. Recently one of the company’s managers was charged in relation to this affair. TF1, which belongs to its parent company, covered the event in its own way. In early 2014, it broadcast a report bragging about the colossal project; its "14,000 tons of steel, which makes twice the Eiffel Tower" or "its exceptional security measures." The rhetoric used was bombastic. Yet, the report "forgot" to disclose that this public-private partnership worth €3.5 billion at stake, had been won by Bouygues. Moreover, the authors took care not to mention the concurrent trial.

In May 2014, during the regional election campaign, TF1 published some content that media outlets were strictly cautioned against doing by the CSA — the Superior Council for Broadcasting. Two days before the end of the campaign, the channel was accused of not respecting the speaking time limits allowed to the candidates. According to the watchdog’s statements, Martin Bouygues’ channel gave half of the speaking time to representatives of the current socialist authority. And this despite its reputation. UMP, an uncontested runner-up, received some 32.8 percent of the time. Five other sides shared the rest, including le Front National (6.78 percent). Twelve more did not receive any speaking time. At all.