TF1 names new LCI chief as channel moves to FTA

French commercial broadcaster TF1 has named Thierry Thuillier as CEO of its news channel LCI.

Thuillier will take over the role as of August 16, working alongside deputy CEO Jean-François Mulliez.

Thuillier, who began his career as a journalist, was director of France 2 between 2013-15 before joining Canal+ Group as director of sports. He joined Eléphant & Cie at the start of this year to develop new magazine and talk-show programmes.

Catherine Nayle, deputy CEO for news at TF1, said that Thuillier’s arrival marked a new stage of development for the channel on the country’s free digital-terrestrial platform with the launch of new digital services.

TF1 won a five-year battle to move LCI from the struggling DTT pay TV platform to free-to-air earlier this month when the French Conseil d’État approved a decision by media regulator the CSA to approve the change.

The Conseil d’État rejected a request to move entertainment channel Paris Première to the free platform.