BFMTV intends to move upmarket in the fall and bounce back against CNews

At the beginning of June, the numbering of the news channels (BFMTV, CNews, LCI, and franceinfo) changed: they were grouped from channel 13 to 16, which rekindled competition. BFMTV hopes for a new dynamic against CNews, now the regular leader among news channels in terms of audience share.

"We have rebuilt the base of viewers on Channel 13 that makes us the most-watched news channel in terms of cumulative audience," with an average of 12 million viewers each day, Fabien Namias, BFMTV's CEO for the past year, told the press.

"The goal is to become number one in audience share again by the time the 2027 presidential election rolls around," he told AFP.

The "editorial line" is to "protect news within our offering," emphasized Jean-Philippe Baille, Deputy Managing Director of News at the RMC BFM group. He then launched, in a swipe at CNews: "BFMTV will not become a channel of opinion, but of conviction."

It has focused on international expansion in recent months and is aiming for a move upmarket, illustrated by a new look and a new studio for the morning show.

This strategic segment has been "completely redesigned" to serve the active population, explains Fabien Namias. Journalist Dominique Tenza, from M6, will co-present it with Perrine Storme.

After facing numerous departures over the past year, BFMTV has signed a few more arrivals. Most notably, Julien Arnaud, ousted from "Télématin" on France 2, who is taking over the 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. slot. Marc Fauvelle, former news director at France Inter, replaces Benjamin Duhamel, who left for the station, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The RMC BFM group is "driven by a shareholder," the shipowner CMA CGM since mid-2024, who "puts wind in our sails, who has the means," noted its CEO Régis Ravanas.

The group, "in the news sector, is successfully attracting young people" and wants to strengthen this trend. In November, all brands, from BFM Business to local versions of BFM, will be grouped together on bfm.com, with the ambition of making it "the leading news platform in France."

In addition, the acquisition of the online video media Brut is on track.