Television: What will NOVO19, the new DTT channel that will be officially launched on Monday, look like?

The new general-interest channel, the only TNT channel based outside Paris, will notably offer two major daily news programs during the week, with a news bulletin at 6:10 p.m., filmed live in Rennes, followed by a Parisian talk show hosted by Claire Arnoux from beIN Sports, and a few seasoned commentators such as Claude Askolovitch (formerly of France Inter). With a leitmotif repeated ad nauseam: to be a channel "truly focused on the regions," in its news as well as in its programs, according to François-Xavier Lefranc. "83% of French people do not necessarily feel represented in the media today, we want to change this impression," explained Guénaëlle Troly, director of the channel, who notably oversaw the launch of RMC Découverte.

For Fabrice Bakhouche, director of the Sipa-Ouest-France group, NOVO19, broadcast live and via streaming, is part of the growing importance of video within the group. "It will allow us to change scale, to change divisions" and to "multiply our video revenues by 10 or 15 times," says the head of the leading French-language press group. Management is aiming for a break-even point in three to four years and hopes to capture 2% of the audience among 25-49 year-olds.

On the news front, the channel is planning a daily 15-minute program hosted by Martin Cangelosi, "We have info." On Thursday, in the brand-new studio set up at the group's headquarters, the former BFMTV and iTélé journalist is finalizing his launch, scheduled for Monday at 6:10 p.m. sharp. "Welcome home, my name is Martin, and I hope you're having a good day." "We're going to have a slightly more off-center tone, a little closer to those who are watching us," while still favoring "solutions journalism," explains Martin Cangelosi. The idea is not to compete with the news programs of the major channels. "We won't be a high mass!"

For Céline Monsallier, editorial director and head of a team of eight journalists, the aim of the news program is first and foremost to provide a unique perspective on current events, to give "a voice to those we don't see." "We often tend in national newsrooms to provide a regional analysis of national news," explains Céline Monsallier. Her editorial team would like to take the opposite approach. "The ambition is rather than territories, we sense the news coming," as was the case with the yellow vest protests.

The channel will rely on a network of correspondents throughout France and a partnership with several regional press titles, while benefiting from the power and expertise of the Ouest-France editorial team. Three original programs "with strong territorial roots" are also planned from 2026: a new series of the former TF1 magazine "Vis ma vie", an adaptation of a British program where an auctioneer appraises the objects in a house ("Cash in the Attic") as well as an adaptation of a Belgian show, "Radio Gaga".