Morocco is on the verge of making history as the first African nation to join the governance of TV5MONDE, the prominent international Francophone television network. According to information released to Médias24 by the channel, Morocco has formally expressed its intention to join this initiative, which was initiated in 2025 by the funding governments of TV5MONDE. This significant step underscores Morocco's ambition to enhance its role within the Francophone community.
In addition to Morocco, Ivory Coast has also shown interest in this governance process and is currently evaluating its potential participation, which could position it as the second African state to engage in this important journey. The timing of these developments coincides with a pivotal transformation phase for TV5MONDE, which has traditionally relied on six funding governments: Canada, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, France, the Principality of Monaco, Quebec, and Switzerland. In 2025, these nations proposed an invitation to eight African member states of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) to embark on a membership process to join the governance of this influential media outlet.
This shift represents a crucial opportunity for TV5MONDE, which has been a cultural and audiovisual player dedicated to promoting cultural diversity, democracy, and sustainable development since its inception in 1984. The network currently operates ten channels, reaching over 400 million households worldwide, with programming available in eleven languages. Additionally, TV5MONDE+ serves as its global streaming platform, enhancing its accessibility and reach.
Kim Younes, the CEO of TV5MONDE, emphasizes the significance of the African audience, stating, "Two out of three people watch TV5MONDE each month on the African continent." She asserts, "The future of TV5MONDE is being built in Africa," highlighting the continent's central role in the network's strategic vision.
Africa: The New Epicenter of Francophonie
The initiative launched by TV5MONDE aligns perfectly with a well-documented demographic reality. According to data from the International Organization of La Francophonie, Africa currently represents 65% of the global Francophone population and is projected to host 85% of all Francophones by 2050. In this context, the opening of TV5MONDE's governance to African states marks a turning point. It shifts the focus from merely broadcasting programs to actively involving African nations in shaping the strategic direction of this international Francophone media.
For Morocco, joining this governance structure would not only allow it to become part of the funding circle but also give it a voice in strategic decision-making within TV5MONDE. The annual budget of the channel is approximately €120 million. Furthermore, Morocco's entry would provide an opportunity to enhance the visibility of its audiovisual and cultural sectors. With a presence in over 200 countries and territories, TV5MONDE could serve as an international showcase for Moroccan productions in a Francophone space increasingly dominated by African contributions.
In a statement sent to Médias24, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication expressed the kingdom's "constant commitment to promoting the French language and celebrating cultural diversity." This commitment underscores Morocco's desire to play a significant role on the global Francophone stage.
Implications for SNRT and Moroccan Content
The anticipated membership of Morocco in TV5MONDE's governance is expected to have significant ramifications for the national public audiovisual sector. The National Society of Radio and Television (SNRT) is expected to join the ranks of public broadcasters that partner with TV5MONDE. This collaboration could lead to co-productions, the availability of Moroccan content across the ten linear channels of the network, and increased representation on TV5MONDE+.
TV5MONDE believes that Morocco's inclusion in its governance would facilitate the acceleration of its strategy for Francophone co-productions across the African continent, encompassing a variety of formats including shows, documentaries, series, and animated content. However, the specific details of this collaboration remain to be defined, with discussions between TV5MONDE and SNRT set to continue in the coming months. A source close to the negotiations noted, "It is still too early at this stage" to elaborate on the co-production projects or development initiatives on the platform.
For Morocco, this endeavor transcends mere institutional presence in a multilateral governance framework. It is fundamentally about amplifying its narratives, images, languages, and productions within an international Francophone space that has historically been structured by major traditional funding bodies. This strategic move holds the potential to reshape the landscape of Francophone media and cultural representation.
As reported by medias24.com.
