 | |
| Country | Monaco |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Worldwide |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | French |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Government of Monaco |
| Key people | Salim Zeghdar (CEO/Executive director) Nathalie Biancolli (deputy CEO) |
| History | |
| Launched | 1 September 2023; 19 months ago (2023-09-01) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
TVMonaco (TVM) is the state-owned television station inMonaco, that launched on 1 September 2023. It broadcasts a range of programmes, including news, talk shows, and documentaries, designed to showcase and promoteMonégasque culture.[1][2]
In the context of a reform of the Monegasque public audiovisual landscape, TV Monaco will shut down in September 2025, merging withMonaco Info to create a new channel.[3]
The idea of a national Monégasque public channel emerged in the principality in 2021,[4] with the aim of recovering Monaco's international communications, afterRMC moved toParis in 2002 and the 100% acquisition ofTMC by the TF1 Group in June 2016.
Initially named Monte-Carlo Riviera TV, it was originally planned to launch in late 2022, however, it was delayed to the third quarter of 2023.[5][6] On 23 March 2023, a new name and launch date were announced for the channel. The channel was renamed TVMonaco and officially launched on 1 September 2023.[7] In December 2021, MCR/TVMonaco joined TV5Monde.[8][9] The name TVMonaco was announced in March 2023.[10]
New details about the service were announced on 18 April 2023. The programming would consist of live news and sports with recorded programming for the rest of the day. Said content currently consists of unscripted programming, but there are plans to add scripted programming within 12 to 18 months from launch. Emphasis is also given to environmental concerns and wildlife in Monaco. The channel is available in both linear and digital platforms.[11]
TVMonaco, which is funded in part by the state, in part through advertising and sales of the programs it produces, will become a member ofTV5Monde, allowing its content to be broadcast in 200 countries.[1][6] The channel produces 52 annual programmes for the network.
The channel announced on social media on 17 August 2023 that the first broadcast would be on 1 September 2023 at 19:15.[12] The opening broadcast saw the presence ofPrince Albert II andPrincess Charlene.[13] Each public television company part of TV5Monde, as well asFrance 24, helped build the channel:
Shortly after the channel's launch, TVMonaco became a member ofMonaco Media Diffusion, the broadcasting company which represents Monaco in theEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU).[14] In March 2024, TVMonaco joined the EBU independently,[15] allowing it to access EBU events on its own, which includes the possibility of Monaco returning to theEurovision Song Contest.
On 18 December 2024, the announcement of the merger of TVMonaco and Monaco Info was made public, being replaced by a new, "independent" channel from 1 September 2025. Geneviève Berti will become the "prefigurer" of the new channel.[3]
The network cost €13.5 million to launch,[16] while its annual budget ascends to €15 million.
The channel is located in the Le Triton building inFontvieille and employs 48 employees, 30 of them being journalists.
It received the support ofJacques Legros and Thibault Malandrin for its implementation.[17]
The channel has four key pillars: environment, current affairs, sport and lifestyle,[18] and has as its sloganRegardez, ça n'a rien à voir ("Watch, it has nothing to do", similar to an oldFrance Inter slogan).[19]
The channel wants to rely on the TV5 and France 24 networks. Starting with mainly purchased programs, the goal is to have more and more of its own content with its own identity.[20]
For the weather, the satellite images come from France 24 and the voice-over is that of a mascot, a sort ofseagull called Monacoco.[24] The weather system works using Automate-IT; the inclusion of a world weather segment was due to the fact that people from 140 nationalities live in Monaco. Separate versions with regional (Riviera) and local (Monaco) weather are also produced, as well as a reformatted version forInstagram.[25]
In Monaco, the channel is accessible on the universal service (cable network), channel 1 and via Monaco Telecom (MTTV/LaBox), channel 9.
It is also present on digital terrestrial television alongsideMonaco Info, from theMont Agel transmitter (UHF channel 35), and visible in the Alpes-Maritimes and the East Var from Menton toBormes-les-Mimosas.
In France via the boxes of the country's internet operators such as myCanal, Freebox, Orange, SFR and Molotov.
In French-speaking countries (Switzerland, Belgium, etc.) via myCanal and on Canalsat (channel 125).
By satellite in Europe via Astra 1M (19.2 E) and in the Middle East and North Africa from MonacoSat-1 (52.0 E)[26] with the hypothesis of launching to theUnited States and in Asia,[27] as well as Africa.[16]
On the internet, the channel's live stream is available on its official website.
The channel was criticized by theGeneral Confederation of Media executives which warns against a "prince's channel" which would be the "fact of the prince" (Albert II), the heterogeneous composition of the editorial staff raising doubts about its independence and credibility.[28]