Last Friday, Monaco got back a proper local broadcaster with the launch of TVMonaco, a new FTA “global and local” TV channel which is being designed as a Monegasque window to the world. A long-delayed project on the works for three years, it was initially known as Monte-Carlo Riviera TV. It is a state-owned broadcaster, but it is operated through an independently administrated corporation, allowing them to receive not only state funds, but also allow them to be financed by ads.
Monte-Carlo Riviera had been producing a weekly lifestyle magazine for external consumption, produced by Monaco Live Productions, a privately-owned indie overseen by veteran French presenter Cyril Viguier, whose last work was with Public Sénat, creating the successful Le Grand JT des Territoires, using resources from the French local press. It was relaunched in the summer 2020 in the wake of the pandemic, broadcasting on TV5 Monde and produced by Bruno Ledoux’s viàGroupe (whose channels, the former TV Sud channels, also broadcast the show in a repeat basis), using these resources along with the now-defunct vià network of local channels, other independently owned channels, the network of Les Indés Radios, and the 20 Minutes network of local papers, but it was dropped by the end of the year after viàGroupe entered administration (resulting on the vià network being disbanded). It was relaunched in March 2021 (shortly before the pandemic) after Viguier created the production company and partnered with the state in preparation for the launch; it also resumed its broadcast by TV5Monde after a MoU which led to the channel entering the consortium.
TVMonaco eventually replaces de jure TMC, which has lost its Monegasque identity and has become more French, but… As part of compliants made by the Principality to TF1 and former owners Pathé and AB about how they were handling the channel after it launched on the TNT (like adding lots of repeats and old American TV series from its owners’ archives), most of the playout is done from Monaco, and the channel must retain some programming related to the Principality. It is still valid even if TF1 now fully owns the channel.
That’s where Monacoscope enters. The short 5-minute long show is produced by the other PSB channel of the Principality, Monaco Info, which is directly operated by the Principality Palace press office; and its content uses information from it. Monaco Info also airs the show on its own channel in translated versions in Italian, German and English, as well as a version featuring real-time translation in French Sign Language.
Alongside the Monacoscope show, Monaco Info manage successfully to produce the channel and its programmes in a shoestring budget: at 19h00, there’s a half-hour newscast (15 minute on weekends and holidays) which is pre-recorded in advance, afterwards, there is a succession of magazines centered on diverse topics related to the principality: lifestyle, luxury, sport, Formula 1, cooking, cinema, music… That hour is then repeated during the rest of the day and most of the day after, until new programming takes over at 19h00. When special events happen in the Principality (such as the National Day, the Saint Devotion celebrations, or big sporting events), the wheel can be broken for extended live coverage. Monaco Info will co-exist with the new channel going forward, with Monaco Info continuing its schedule of strict local offerings, whilst TVMonaco will be more broad in style.
In the midst of this, the launch of the channel was heavily delayed, due to pandemic and budget-related issues. Eventually, during the traditional MIPTV conference at the start of the year, the TVMonaco name was formally announced, as well as its first look at its brand identity, designed by French agency Gédéon, and its launch was formally set for last Friday.
The ad-supported state-owned channel finally launched on September 1 shortly after 19:15 (due to some technical issues), with a star-studded event at the Louis II Stadium, attended by Monaco royalty; the launch protocol was formally executed by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene.
The channel launches with a full schedule, mixing documentaries and non-fiction content (particularly focusing on royal events, lifestyle and luxury, and environmental issues) with daily local news and sports programming; most non-news programming, mostly original, is being sourced from independent producers, some international production companies, and from special partnerships to create branded content. Given the network also integrates the TV5Monde consortium (and has a small stake in it), it will also have access to content and the combined resources from France Télévisions, France 24, Arte France, the INA, RTBF, RTS, Ici Radio-Canada Télé, Télé-Québec, and six French African broadcasters.
From the first day it has two news programmes, from Monday to Friday: one at 8am (Ça marche !) and another at 19:15 (L’Actu). On weekends, it will air a sport highlights show (Sport ça Matche !) at 18:15. Its weather forecast lacks an in-house forecaster, instead using a CGI seagull; it is presented in a very irreverent way, but uses data from Météo France.
Its entertainment schedule is also very unique, given its initial focus on unscripted shows, but it deliberately brings a broader scope of Monaco affairs (instead of limiting to simply sport, luxury and lifestyle): programming starts at 7am with music videos filmed at concerts in and around the Principality. After the morning show, at 9am, the first of five documentary slots airs, focusing on educational and special interest topics related to Monaco and its lifestyle. After an encore of the evening news, late mornings will feature slow TV filler, before switching to the second doco strand, focused on Monaco and universal history. At 12:45pm, the strand will feature cooking programming, before another series of history docos, followed by an encore of “Ça marche” on the afternoon.
After the encore, another general interest documentary strand airs, followed by a sport documentary strand featuring both local and international docos, followed by the evening news. Prime time begins with a general interest documentary, followed by thematic strands on Mondays and Wednesdays, dedicated to science and nature. Tuesdays will focus on true crime, whilst Thursday and Fridays are focused on Monaco living (Thursdays for sport events and profiles, and Fridays for royals, luxury, fashion and entertainment).
The channel is distributed to local audiences through the Principality-wide cable TV relay, on the pay TV offering of monopolist Monaco Telecom, and through TNT overspill from the Mont Agel FTA transmitter, which will also allow for regional coverage in and around the French Riviera (including Nice and the northern part of Corse); in mainland France, it is also available nationwide on the broadband “box” operators and streaming service Molotov. It is also being distributed via satellite into North America and East Asia, and will be available as an internal AVOD offering globally (with some geoblocked content) in a still not disclosed partnership with a well-known tech company.
Many of the channel’s shows will be available globally through TV5Monde, and through distribution to other channels; it plans also to produce its own scripted shows within the next two years. The channel is headquartered on the Fontvieille Bay district, in a repurposed canteen building.
