Boys Costumes Depicted in Television Shows: France


Figure 1.--This German TV production of Heimat 1 has been broadcast of French TV networks. A French reader tells us that French TV networks do not have the capability of creating programming of comparable quality.

HBC has little information on French television. The language must be the major factor here as HBC had assumed that there must have been a lot of interesting French TV shows. A French reader, however, provides some information about French television in that country. "I am afraid to say that I can't contribute much to the TV section. I don't watch a great deal of television and my favorite TV programs are on the musical side or regular magasines discussing social and cultural and environmental problems. I have on occasion checked French TV programs for yougsters on non-school days. Would you believe that nearly all these are imported from the States, many being already listed in your pages although it is sometimes difficult to make the link due to French translation of titles. The TV culture in Europe is quite different from the United States and varies quite a bit from country to country. In Europe the child protection rules prevent in some way kids working as actors in TV shows. Also there is less money available in small nations for big shows, money is used for TV programs with the largest possible audience. In France a typical non-school day TV program would include: some comics Walt Disney type shows for younger kids, mainly U.S imported series for teenagers, and some TV magazines about sport, science (vulgarisation) and the horrible music yougsters enjoy nowadays!"

Limited Information

HBC has little information on French television. The language must be the major factor here as HBC had assumed that there must have been a lot of interesting French TV shows.

Programming

A French reader, however, provides some information about French national television in that country. "I am afraid to say that I can't contribute much to the TV section. I don't watch a great deal of television and my favorite TV programs are on the musical side or regular magasines discussing social and cultural and environmental problems. I have on occasion checked French TV programs for yougsters on non-school days. Would you believe that nearly all these are imported from the States, many being already listed in your pages although it is sometimes difficult to make the link due to French translation of titles. The TV culture in Europe is quite different from the United States and varies quite a bit from country to country. In Europe the child protection rules prevent in some way kids working as actors in TV shows. Also there is less money available in small nations for big shows, money is used for TV programs with the largest possible audience. In France a typical non-school day TV program would include: some comics Walt Disney type shows for younger kids, mainly U.S imported series for teenagers, and some TV magazines about sport, science (vulgarisation) and the horrible music yougsters enjoy nowadays!" A Ameican adds, "Just a quick anecdote. Having lived in France myself, I would like to precise that children's cartoons there are not 'nearly all' American anymore. In the early 1980s, Japanese cartoons also started making their way into French TV programs for children. In the 1990s, France became the second country in the world (after Japan) in terms of popularity for "manga" (Japanese comics) and "anime" (Japanese cartoons based on the comics series)."

Networks

France has six principal television networks. There are four independant commercial channels. These networks are named France 1-4. These networks broadcast primarily French-language programming. Some foreign films are shown late at night. One channel is operated by the state. Another is the French-German channel "Arte" which has very interesting cultural discussions and world problem programs. A French reader tells us that he often watches German TV programs on this network. He rembers, for example, seeing the "Heimat 1" series on this network. He tells us," 'Arte' and 'France 2' have run Heimat and other foreign films. Most programming is in French, nevertheless a non negligible minority is interested in cultural approach of civilizations and peoples all over the world. Even close to their own country! (Hunsrück is located less than 100 km from the French boarder)." French TV viewers casn receive many more French-language channels by satellite. Many African countriues have TV channels which broadcast in French.

Government Regulation

All the channels including the commercial channel are rgulated by the government. There are regulations about foeign programming content.

Child Protection

France has very strict laws governing children working. This affects both TV and movie production. A child's earnings can't be touched before a child is 18 years old .

Advertisements

A Frnch reader tells us, "Probably we have the most lovely adds with children of any country in the world. all the children employed for this work are charming. The terms , " nos chers têtes blondes " or " les garçonnets en culottes courtes " are employed ."

French TV Industry

We know nothing about the French television industry. The French film industry is well established and we know of many important French films. Strangely, we do not know of any importabt French television productions. A French reader is very disappointed in French television. He beelieves that foreign programing is used because of the lack of quality French productions. He writes, " Another factor for a TV broadcaster to choose foreign productions like Heimat lies in originality as much in form as in deep scenario. The way to tell the history, episode after episode, looks like very far from classic ones. I believe such a TV production does not exist in France."

Series

At this time we do not know of any Frnch TV-series with child characters.

Transmission Protocol

French colour TV uses a signal transmission protocol which is less brilliant than the German PAL-protocol (PAL is used in many European countries, for some political reasons, however, not in France.).






HBC





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Created: August 24, 2003
Last updated:7:30 PM 12/14/2004