Question 13579 — press and books

Summary

Ms. Cécile Muschotti questions the Minister of Culture on the reform of press distribution. She was recently questioned by representatives of Culture Presse, a professional organization of newsagents in her department about the announced reform of the press distribution system. They are satisfied that the main principles of the Bichet law of 1947, reaffirmed in the Françaix law of April 17, 2015, are also reaffirmed in the Schwartz report released in the summer of 2018. However, they would like the future law to specify certain points: on the definition of the press product, the revitalization of sales through the assortment of supplies and the opening of points of sale. Their representatives are opposed to a change in the law which would give them total choice of securities, because their independent status would not allow them to fight on equal terms with the networks of major brands; On the other hand, they wish to set up an assortment (provided for by the 2015 law) which respects the commercial project of each merchant by adapting to the available shelf space. A right of access to the network for the general information press (IPG) and press titles having obtained the joint commission, and a free choice of merchant for other printed products could however be considered. This categorization, however, requires a clear definition of the press product which should, according to them, be based on the criteria of the CPPAP; titles with a joint committee number would thus have a particular tax status consistent with a particular commercial status. The definition of the press product and the assortment measures are, according to the merchants, essential to revitalize the market and specialist businesses which close in large numbers each year or reduce the share allocated to the press. Merchants are also very insistent that the creation of press outlets remain regulated, as is already the case today without this preventing openings: 390 creations recorded in 2017 including 74 on integrated supermarket shelves; they are indeed worried about plans to open press departments within 10 000 convenience stores across the country and in specialized brands that could sell titles related to their sector of activity (gardening in garden centers, decoration in furniture brands, etc.). These openings - already tested without results in the past - will be very costly in terms of distribution costs (even though the main messaging service is in great difficulty), ineffective in terms of additional sales and they will further weaken press outlets in the hearts of towns, villages or neighborhoods. Also, while the network lost more than 900 sellers in 2017 and the company Presstalis is the subject of a new recovery plan, it would like to know the Government's intentions to revitalize and adapt the press distribution network. Just like the representatives of the broadcasters, the MP considers that the revision of the Bichet law must be done without dogmatism, preserving the principles of impartiality and pluralism which have made the success of the French market and built an identified and largely specialized network, unique in Europe, and which fulfills a primordial role for commercial attractiveness in urban and rural communities. She would therefore like to know his intentions on these questions.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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