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Sarkozy-appointed commission presents ways to scrap advertising on public TV(Associated Press WorldStream Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) PARIS_A commission proposed Wednesday three possible ways to fill the ?650 million ($1.3 billion) annual loss in revenue that would result if advertising on public television were eliminated. Getting the ads off public TV is an initiative of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. And he appointed the members of the commission. Commission head Jean-Francois Cope, who also leads the governing party in the National Assembly, proposed increasing the television license fee, taxing the revenue of Internet providers, or taxing consumer electronic goods. Whichever plan _ or combination of plans _ is selected, it will require parliamentary approval. The commission will make public a final report on June 25. Sarkozy in January announced his intention to move French public television closer to the model of Britain's BBC by scrapping advertising. The announcement was considered a boon to private broadcasters, who might pick up some of the advertising now appearing on public TV, and sent shares in Television Francaise 1 SA and M6-Metropole Television SA soaring. Cope said Wednesday he favors the second option, which would add an additional 0.5 percent tax on revenues to the taxes already paid by Internet service providers, who he said currently "broadcast television without tax." But he stressed that members of the commission _ which is composed of media professionals, artists, parliamentary lawmakers and one former BBC executive _ have differing views and none of the scenarios is "exclusive or definitive." Copyright ? 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |