Former France TV president dies

Rémy Pflimlin, president of public broadcaster France Télévisions until last year, passed away over the weekend aged 62 after a battle with cancer.

Rémy Pflimlin

Pflimlin’s term as president ran from 2010 until 2015, when he was replaced by Delphine Ernotte-Cunci.

He had a tough remit, having been appointed by then French president Nicolas Sarkozy under controversial, and since reversed, legislation that said the country’s president should choose the heads of public media organisations.

The broadcaster faced severe budget cuts during his time in charge, following Sarkozy’s decision in 2009 to ban advertising during its evening programmes.

Prior to France Télévisions, Pflimlin was MD of France 3 from 1999 to 2005, enjoying success with daily soap Plus Belle La Vie, which he decided to support despite its initially poor ratings. It went on to become one of the most successful shows on French television.

He ran daily newspaper L’Alsace from 1991 to 1999 and was MD of press distribution Nouvelles Messageries de la Presse from 2006 to 2010, driving its rebrand as Prestalis.

TV executives this morning saluted a very cultivated and warm man, entirely devoted to his tasks, as well as a much loyal person of a great humanity.