ARTE TO STAY INDEPENDENT.

• Position: Brief Article

The German Chairman of the Franco-German television channel ARTE, Jobst Plog, is hoping for rapid agreement with France to preserve the channel's editorial and financial independence guaranteed by a Franco-German treaty. The treaty has precedence over the national laws of each of the countries, according to a January 5 statement by Mr Plog. At issue is the prospective French law on the radio and television sector which calls for all French public television channels to be brought under the Government holding company "France Television". Mr Plog is asking that the Chairman of ARTE (whose chairman alternates between a French national and a German national) not be appointed by the head of this future public holding company. Mr Plog has given...