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BFMTV’s new studio
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The design of the new studio reminds me a lot of TF1's news studio. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same designer (Olivier Illouz) behind it, and the overall design feeling has exactly its DNA (pronounced and exaggerated curves, clean designs, lots of glass). Just speculating, however.

Otherwise, it is a really needed improvement for them. BFM TV's main news studio has always had a very cold and clinical design and feel to it, particularly after years of using cheap virtual sets and backdrops. We had hoped something was changing when they moved to Altice Campus, but we were treated with a similarly clinical design, but in a larger space. The new design looks also superior to the current set designs (compared to LCI's nice, but also very clinical set design, and CNEWS' cupboards). So, this is a welcome change and we will see how it looks in action visually.

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A quick break on this for new Mercato news...

Télématin is facing some changes on its presenter line-up. Julia Vignali is leaving the show. There have been rumors of increased behind the scenes tensions over these last few months between Vignali and her co-presenter Thomas Sotto, but these haven't fully confirmed. However, the real reason for her resignation from the programme: she's taking over Sophie Davant (another Télématin staple), who is leaving France 2 to join the Bolloré-led Europe 1, on the presentation duties of Affaire conclue.

www.telestar.fr 

A replacement for her on Télématin has been already confirmed: former Canal+ sports presenter Marie Portolano, who will leave M6 (where he joined two years ago to host The Great French Bake Off) and co-present Monday-Thursday with Sotto.

www.telestar.fr 

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Another high-profile hiring, but more related to sports: Isabelle Ithurburu, longtime Canal+ rugby presenter, has been hired by TF1 for its coverage of the landmark 2023 Rugby World Cup, but she will also eventually replaced Nikos Aliagas on the presenting duties of the weekly entertainment newsmagazine 50 Minutes Inside.

www.tf1info.fr 

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We've talked about Europe 1, which getting closer to Bolloré wanting it to be a radio version of CNEWS, and, alongside the hiring of Davant, who will host a daily drive time show on lifestyle and entertainment issues, Europe 1 has hired Thomas Isle, who is coming back to the big leagues (after the axing of France 5's La Quotidienne and the spectacular failure of Samedi à tout prix). Isle will host the midday media news slot, replacing Phillipe Vandel, who has been fired by the new Bolloré management.

www.purepeople.com 

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Over at France Inter, big changes coming to its schedule, becoming increasingly focused on news and current affairs. After Marc Fauvelle was hired as Catherine Nayl's replacement, a big chunk of next season's schedule has been announced. Nicolas Demorand and Léa Salamé will retain hosts duties on the station's morning slot, which will now air from 7h to 10h. Additionally, they will be joined by Sonia Devilliers, who will do the 7:50 am political slot.

Le 13/14 will also have changes: Bruno Duvic is becoming Radio France's Rome correspondent, with his chair being taken over by Jerôme Cadet. Additionally, France Inter is incorporating the weekend morning show into its Friday schedule, and will gain new hosts, Ali Baddou and Marion L’Hour. The 6-9 Weekend will now air Friday to Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m, reducing Nicolas Demorand and Léa Salamé to a Monday-Thursday schedule.

www.leparisien.fr 

More changes will affect cultural and societal programming. Its drive time humor show, C'est encore nous, with Charline Vanhoenacker and Alex Vizorek, is now becoming a weekly show on Sundays. The move has caused a big outcry, leading to fans launching an online petition.

www.ladepeche.fr 

Matthieu Noël's Zoom zoom zen will get an extra hour going forward, and cultural interview show L’heure bleue will get a new host: Eva Bester replaces Laure Adler. Additionally, Jérôme Garcin will retire from the station's long-running book review show Le masque et la plume in January, with Rebecca Manzoni succeeding him. She will compatibilise the duties with her existing show Totémic.

The only show axed is Patrick Boucheron's history strand. Although Arrêt sur images (paywall) tells the move is due to budget cuts, France Inter management (including Director General Adèle van Reeth) was clearly hostile against Boucheron, a Collège de France academic historian.

www.arretsurimages.net 

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Over at RTL, after the announcement of Pascal Praud's resignation, more changes have been known: RTL Matin (Yves Calvi/Amandine Bégot) will lose its daily humor slot, which was alternately presented by Bertrand Chameroy, Sandrine Sarroche, Mathieu Madénian, Sébastien Thoen and Élodie Poux. In the other hand, RTL Soir will get that humor slot, hiring RFM's morning show host Marc-Antoine Le Bret, who will also be a core member (sociétaire) on Laurent Ruquier's Les Grosses Têtes.

The RTL Matin cultural strand Laissez-vous tenter is also being spun-off as its own Sunday morning show, for 45 minutes at 9h15. RTL cultural editor Anthony Martin will serve as presenter of the new weekly show. Additionally, both Ruquier and Julien Courbet have renewed with RTL for long-term contracts.

www.ladepeche.fr