TV8 Mont Blanc

TV8 Mont Blanc is a Television channel private French local general practitioner, which is defined as " the television of the Countries of Savoy and Léman".

Its zone of hertzian diffusion " historique" cover partially

the Pays of Savoy (or the Savoy as a geographical area), including/understanding the departments of the Savoy and the Haute-Savoie,
certain sectors of the Département of Ain: the Country of Gex and part of Bottom Bugey,
and in Switzerland, the Western end of the basin lemanic: Cantons of Geneva and partially of Vaud (district of Nyon).

History of the chain

1989-1993: Lucie S.A., the first 8 Mont Blanc

Created in 1989 by the journalist Andre Campana in margin of the festival of film of Avoriaz, 8 Mont Blanc belongs to the three older hertzian local television channels of proximity in France, with TLM (Télé Lyon Métropole) and TLT (Télé Toulouse). With a 4 hours production of “fresh” programs daily newspapers, the chain grows quickly and is established in the local media landscape.

In December 1991, a decentralized office is opened with Chambéry, at the time of the Olympic Games of Albertville. This structure allowed the realization of two tv news, one with Annecy intended for the Haute-Savoie, the other in Chambéry intended for the Savoy, diffused each one and each hour of 19:00 to 23:00 on their respective zone with the favor of a technical unhooking (similar to that of France 3). With 22:00 however, the two JT were diffused successively on the whole of the zone of reception starting from Annecy (the edition of Chambéry being a recording on VHS of the final signal - logo " 8M" understood - that a collaborator transported from Chambéry to Épagny).

At the beginning of 1993, Lucie SA, the holding which had 8 Mont Blanc, acquires TLM to carry out a bringing together between two Rhone-alpine local televisions. This translated bringing together this in May 1993 by a new more ambitious program timetable, with series and cartoons already diffused on the national antennas (Inspector Derrick, M*A*S*H, Knights of the Zodiac), a JT midday, and great emissions on line common to 8 Mont Blanc and TLM, as well as a new preparing of antenna also common to both chains. Films were envisaged in the second time…

But the financial expenses which accumulate on the small structure are enormous, in particular because of the number of relay transmitters which the chain must finance in these mountainous regions, and also because of the low volume of publicity diffused. The expenses caused by fusion TLM/8-Mount-White were of too.

In June 1993, 5 weeks hardly after the introduction of the new programs, Lucie SA files for bankruptcy. The emissions continue in a very reduced form (of 17:00 to 23:00 the week, 18:00 with 22:00 the weekend), the production of emissions " fraîches" being reduced to the strict minimum (1 only JT + 1 emission of direct daily). The office of Chambéry is closed. During several months the chain survives painfully, passing to a few days, even a few hours, of the black screen due to exhausted treasury. It owes its survival only with the injection of funds by one of its shareholders, and future transferee, the group 2RBI (Rene and Robert Bianco), credit in the products pétroliers.

1994-1997: T.2.S. (Television of the 2 Savoy), the second 8 Mont Blanc

In February 1994, the chain is entrusted to the 2RBI group, associated with a group of media Québécois, MediaPower. The resumption of more ambitious programming takes place as of the month of April 1994, accompanied by a new preparing of antenna.

During three years, the programming of the chain will diversify: information more present (return of the flash of semi-day in 1996), sport (retransmission of the world cup of ski on line), consolidation and diversification of the emissions " of proximité" , but also diffusion of Québécois programs resulting from the catalog from MediaPower ( Bibi and his/her friends , Visions of America ), as well as the documentary ones (of which Azimuths , an emission produced by UNO with Geneva).

The chain moves also at that time, of its old buildings with Épagny (street of Mandallaz), in new modern buildings with Sévrier (road of the Trigger guards), property of Rene and Robert Bianco.

It is also at that time that was launched the emission headlight of the chain, the Place of the Village , presented by the twin brothers Philippe and Jean-Christmas Deparis. The concept consists of a visit of the Countries of Savoy (small villages like large districts), with the meeting of the inhabitants who bear authentic witness, and superb images showing all the beauty of the area.

But the history is repeated, and chains it makes again vis-a-vis serious financial problems. In 1996, the chain had a budget of 24 MF, but the receipts only rose to 13 MF, which released a deficit of 11 MF, that is to say almost 1 MF of losses per month! These losses were caused once again by the astronomical costs of diffusion, as well as a too low advertizing volume leaded by " a certain written press régionale" who at that time sees evil eye this chain adapting part of the cake. Rene and Robert Bianco sponge the deficit with their personal fortune, but this situation is not bearable.

July 1st, 1997, the 2RBI group throws sponge, and Guénaëlle Troly announces in opening of the JT of midday that " This July will be the last for 8 Mont Blanc, which will cease emitting on July 31st with minuit" , however without filing for bankruptcy as a preliminary. As on Five, an association of televiewers, association " The 8" , constitutes itself then under the impulse of the one of the journalists of the chain, Patrice Mallet. The presidency is taken by Philippe Deparis, and its goal is obviously to work with the restarting of the chain. Very quickly, association receives many mails of support, and savings start to be formed.

July 31st at 12 midnight, at the end of one evening special of goodbye during which the history of the 8 was evoked, two children (a boy and a girl) born the same day that the chain actuate a lever of the final control, and the black screen (only disturbed by the presence of the logo " 8M"), the screen invades. Ten minutes afterwards, and for 2 months, a message of support with association " The 8" is diffused with the antenna. The chain ceases its emissions completely at the beginning of October 1997, beginning of one (true) black screen of 3 ans.

Since 2000: TV8 Mont Blanc, the third 8 Mont Blanc

In January 2000, the SCUMS adopts the project of association " The 8" for the creation of a new local television channel. In July of the same year, the authorization to emit is granted for one 5 years duration.

On Saturday, October 21, 2000 with 17:20 (with 20 minutes of delay on the schedule envisaged), the chain starts again. The emission of recovery, presented by Patrice Mallet, Philippe and Jean-Christmas Deparis in outside, and Stephan Santini in studio, presents the " news têtes" , new programs and new preparing of the chain, by including reactions (telephone) of old organizers - in particular Christophe Ruault and Guénaëlle Troly - following the resurrection of the chain. For the symbol, this emission of recovery was immediately followed to 19:00 of a new edition of " The Place of Village" (" with Field-Laurent, 21 inhabitants, smaller commune of the Countries of Savoie").

The programming is with the very modest departure (a sequence of programs " maison" from two hours multidiffusée in loop of 17:00 at midnight) and is based on the strong assets of the chain: information (JT, 7 days in 1 hour), talk show ( Inforum , Large 8 ) and the Place of the Village . It is packed very quickly: widening of the schedules of emission, return of the retransmissions of Ski, diversification of the magazines, diffusion the documentary ones…

The restarting of the chain is in addition supported by notable supports: buildings rented by the former owners of the chain, expenses of diffusion (300 K€/an) taken initially charges some by the departments with Savoy and Haute-Savoie (this last contribution transforming itself thereafter into purchase of programs), and versatility of the personnel of which the number is tiny room to the maximum (the chain functions at the beginning with 15 paid, against 40 before the black screen).

Patrice Mallet was the president of TV8 Mont Blanc since the acceptance of the project by SCUMS until the effective restarting of the chain. Since, the voluntary president is Paul Rivier, the former chairman of the group Tefal.

In 2002, the chain takes its current name of antenna TV8 Mont Blanc (the company already administratively bore this name as of its restarting, but had preserved " 8 Mount-Blanc" like name of antenna, in continuity of last).

In 2004, the local office of Chambéry is recreated. Its goal is not any more to carry out a parallel JT, but to cover the basin chambérien more specifically and to carry out reports and short programs within this framework.

At the beginning of 2005, the authorization to emit chain is renewed after a procedure simplified (i.e. without invitation to tender) for new a 5 years duration. The authorization of the chain is thus valid until July 2010. In parallel, TV8 Mont Blanc seeks to widen its audience by using alternative means of diffusion: satellite, cable networks in Swiss France and , FAI ADSL.

Lastly, following the arrival of new shareholders in the capital in 2006, the orientation of TV8 Mont Blanc changes, and the purpose of the chain is from now on, in addition to continuing to be the television of the Countries of Savoy, to become a national specialized channel dedicated to the mountain. A new program timetable general practitioner is setting-up in October 2006 under the crook of Denis Vincenti, including new magazines and fictions directed towards this topic, beside the traditional programs of the chain. TV8 Mont Blanc emits from now on 24:00 on 24.

It should finally be noted that TV8 Mont Blanc is today the only French local television channel which manages to reach financial balance. As comparison, TLM, whose potential of televiewers is comparable and the more important budget, continuous to lose 150.000 € per month…

The audience is also with go. On the zone of reception, penetration rate is higher than 90%. In cumulated audience, it is nearly 400.000 televiewers per day who look at the chain, the emission which carries out the best scores being obviously " The Place of Village" (between 190.000 and 200.000 televiewers per emission), followed JT.

Programs

Emissions

TV8 Mont Blanc being by nature a local chain, its programs are articulated primarily around the Countries of Savoy:

regional (J.T carried out of the Monday to Friday, retrospective information weekly magazine " 7 Days in 1 Heure")
political local (cover of the elections, political debates)
" Talk-shows" presenting inter alia the local events (Large 8, Color Holidays…)
local services (with magazines very specialized like Annecy-Mag or Seynod-Mag)
discovered regional inheritance (natural, architectural, cultural, gastronomical…)
social action (employment, insertion)
regional music (accordion)
cover of local events (election of Miss Country of Savoy or Ceremony of the gold women for example).
Cook to me : culinary emission with the spangled big boss Marc Veyrat.

The program more symbolic system of the chain is the Place of the Village , an emission of discovered Countries of Savoy through the authentic testimony of the inhabitants (young people and old) of the cities and villages visited, on bottom of typical images of panoramas. This emission is presented since the origin, in 1994, by the twins Philippe and Jean-Christmas Deparis.

Since September 2006, the chain ambitionne in addition to become a national chain specialized in the mountain (to counter the project of feue " TV" mountain;). The program timetable thus contains more the documentary ones and fictions related to the set of themes of the mountain.

As on any local television, the programs are multidiffusés the day and the weekend, making it possible the greatest number of televiewers to look at the emissions.

Organizers

Below the lists of the principal speakers are given to the antenna according to the period.

1989-1993:

Christophe Ruault : All emissions on line (one could call a little exaggeratedly it " the organizer vedette").
Dusty : Emissions on line, substitute of Christophe Ruault
Christophe Pinguet : J.T
Christophe Barremaecker : images for the J.T
Thierry Bouvard : J.T., 7 Days in 1 Hour
German Dagognet : J.T., 7 Days in 1 Hour
Jean-Paul Crespy : Short programs
Pierre Dangas : Information, policy, 7 Days in 1 Hour

The voluntary liquidation of 1993 was fatal in Pierre Dangas, and especially in Dusty, which thereafter remade only one short reappearance with the antenna during the summer 1994 to replace Christophe Ruault during his holidays, without continuation.

1994-1997:

Christophe Ruault : All emissions on line
Karine Rey : Emissions on line, plays
Christophe Barremaecker : Emissions on line, advances fast
Germain Dagognet : J.T., 7 Days in 1 Hour, creator of the Place of the Village
Thierry Bouvard : J.T., 7 Days in 1 Hour
Guénaëlle Troly : J.T
Chrystel Chabert : J.T., some emissions on line
Philippe and Jean-Christmas Deparis : The Place of the Village
Patrice Mallet : Sporting emissions (Sport 8), comments of the ski
Jean-Marc Chauvet : Sport 8 (with Patrice Mallet)
Sebastien Géroudet : Short programs, Signal Accordion (with Carole Montmayeur and Jean-Robert Chain)

Following the brutal stop of the chain on July 31st, 1997, almost the totality of the organizers of the chain left towards other skies. One in particular could find them on the following media (: with the antenna):

Voyage (Pathé group): The largest quota the old ones of the 8, organizers like administrative staffs and techniques. Among them: Christophe Pinguet and Guénaëlle Troly, Christophe Ruault (this last then on TMC Monte Carlo)
France 3 the Rhone-Alps: Jean-Marc Chauvet, Chrystel Chabert * LCI: Germain Dagognet, Thierry Bouvard
TSR: Karine Rey * Radio-France Country of Savoy: Patrice Mallet

In 1998, P. and J-N. Deparis left the book " The place of Village" , 3 years retrospective of emissions. It was the first volume of a whole series (4 volumes are appeared to date).

2000-2007:

With the restarting of the chain, only 5 old was still present: Patrice Mallet, Jean-Paul Crespy, Sebastien Géroudet, Philippe and Jean-Christmas Deparis. They are besides always there today.

Patrice Mallet : Emissions of direct (Inforum, Large 8, Freehand, Sport 8, Ground of adventure) and special programs
Alexis Olivier : Emissions of direct and special (Color Holidays), Cook to me (with Marc Veyrat)
Gilles Meunier : J.T. (of 2002 to 2005), 7 Days in 1 Hour, Large 8, Face-to-face discussion, Welcome on Earth
Stephan Santini : J.T. (2000-2001), 7 Days in 1 Hour (2000-2001), Documenterre (since 2005)
Philippe and Jean-Christmas Deparis : The Place of the Village, the great Place of the Village
Sebastien Géroudet : Prospects (economic magazine), Signal Accordion and Grant you (with Carole Montmayeur and Jean-Robert Chappelet)
Stéphanie Régès, Melanie Bois and Thomas Viguier : J.T
Denis Vincenti : Altitude
and well of others…

Lastly, in a very episodical way, certain organizers of national television made an appearance on 8 Mont Blanc, either for a special program, or for a series of emissions. Among them one finds:

Patrice Laffont, in the first years of the chain
Pierre Bellemare, in particular in 1994 (evening of inauguration of the new programs)
Laurent Boyer (Ceremony of the gold women)

Diffusion

Since its creation, the chain is diffused into analogical hertzian on the Countries of Savoy (Savoy, Haute-Savoie), the Pays of Gex, Bugey and Geneva, with many remote regions. Unfortunately, the relief of the area requires many relay transmitters to reabsorb the remote regions, causing an enormous financial pressure on the small chain which must finance these transmitters. This was one of the main causes of the financial vexations of 1993 and 1997. The diffusion of TV8 Mont Blanc is thus pressed primarily on a noria of secondary relay transmitters, because it is not taken again by the principal hertzian transmitters of the area (Chambéry Mont of the Cat or Gex - Mount-Round), leaving broad geographical areas in the shade (Savoyard Avant-Pays in particular), and of many others with a difficult reception.

By decision of the SCUMS of July 15th, 2007, TV8 Mont Blanc automatically profits from the channel reserved on television numerical of proximity released on the R1 multiplexing by France 4. This diffusion on TNT is effective since September 17th, 2007 (transmitting of Chambéry-The-Mounts, Annecy and Albertville), making the chain available in particular in the towns of Annecy, Chambéry, Aix the Baths, Albertville, Pontcharra, Rumilly, Cruseilles, Grésy-on-Isere and Montmélian.

Since the origin also, the chain is taken again on the cable networks of Chambéry, Annecy or Geneva. It should be noted that in Chambéry, the chain had been replaced on its channel as of on August 1st, 1997, shortly after the official stop of the emissions, by Paris Première, causing the anger of the organizers and persons in charge of the time (the support for Association the 8 was thus not diffused). Today, Numericable relait the chain into analogical and on its zone of diffusion. In Swiss, TV8 Mont Blanc is taken again on the Téléréseau of Lausanne (City TV) since December 2006, by using double standard DVB-T (standard TNT) and DVB-C (standard numerical cabled). The network Naxoo (Geneva and Were worth) only takes again the chain in DVB-C.

For the anecdote, TV8 Mont Blanc is even received until the Kazakhstan, on the network of Astana.

Since 2004, TV8 Mont Blanc seeks to extend its diffusion via the satellite. The satellite access, always numerically, is free in all the cases:

On Hot Bird 6
On Atlantic Bird 3 (as of September 2007)
In bouquet TPS (Chain n° 185)

The totality of the suppliers of access ADSL of France propose TV8 Mont Blanc in their offer. In Swiss, BluewinTV (service TV by ADSL of Swisscom) takes again TV8 Mont Blanc in its basic offer in all Switzerland, including for the Germanic televiewers or tessinois. It should be noted that in addition to TV8 Mont Blanc, only the French national large chains (TF1, M6, ARTE and chains of France Televisions) and Swiss (TSR1 and TSR2), more RTBF-Sat and TV5MONDE are entitled to this " privilège" , all other French-speaking chains forming part either of the linguistic package, or of the paying additional packages (like Canal+).

TV8 Mont Blanc is also available in streaming on its Internet site () since November 2006.

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