View source for France 4

{{Short description|French public children's and arts television channel}}{{Use British English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = France 4
| logo = France 4 - logo 2018.svg
| logo_size = 220px
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2018
| airdate = 
| launch_date = {{start date and age|df=yes|2005|03|31}}
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[HDTV]]<br/>(downscaled to [[576i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
| network = 
| owner = 
| parent = [[France Télévisions]]
| sister_channels = [[France 2]]<br>[[France 3]]<br>[[France 5]]<br>[[France Info (TV channel)|France Info]]
| key_people = 
| motto = 
| country = {{Flag|France}}
| language = [[French language|French]]
| area = France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany, Canada, Africa
| affiliates = 
| headquarters = [[Paris]], France
| former_names =
| replaced = Festival (1996–2005)
| timeshift_service = 
| website = {{url|http://www.france.tv/france-4}}
| terr_serv_1 = [[Television in France|TNT]]
| terr_chan_1 = Channel 4
| terr_serv_2 = [[Television in France|TNT]] in Overseas France
| terr_chan_2 = Channel 4 or 5 or 6
}} 
'''France 4''' ({{IPA|fr|fʁɑ̃s katʁ|pron}}) is a French [[free-to-air]] [[Public broadcasting|public television]] channel. Owned by [[France Télévisions]], the channel is divided into two [[Block programming|strands]], with children's and family programming under the ''Okoo'' strand airing from 05:00 to 21:00 daily, and arts programming from 21:00 to 05:00 nightly.

The channel has its origins in '''Festival''', a satellite channel established by France Télévision in 1996 to carry arts and cultural programming. With the launch of France's [[digital terrestrial television]] platform [[Television in France|TNT]] on 31 March 2005, Festival was re-launched as a free-to-air channel known as France 4. While it was officially France Télévisions' eighth channel, the "France 4" branding was derived from its placement on TNT channel 14; during a realignment of TNT's channel assignments, France 4 was moved to channel 4 on 6 June 2025.

== History ==

=== Festival (1996–2005) ===
On 24 June 1996, France Télévision established '''Festival''', a satellite channel for the [[Télévision Par Satellite|TPS]] satellite service, which France Télévision co-owned at the time. Festival offered a selection of films and television series, many of them previously seen on France 2, France 3 and [[Arte]].

=== France 4 (2001–present) ===
In 2001, when the French [[digital terrestrial television]] system was in its developmental stage, the socialist government of [[Lionel Jospin]] asked the president of France Télévisions to consider a bouquet of public channels to be broadcast digitally, so that the public broadcaster could have involvement in this project. France Télévisions proposed the creation of three new channels: "France 1", "France 4" and "France 6", an all-news channel, a channel dedicated to the regions, and a channel featuring repeat broadcasts of France 2 and France 3.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-01-17 |title=Naissance d'une chaîne |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/television/43719-20050117-television-naissance-d-une-chaine |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=20 Minutes |language=fr}}</ref>

Eventually, France Télévisions would have four digital channels besides France 2 and France 3, with three of them occupying existing channels: [[France 5]] (formerly La Cinquième), Arte, and La Chaîne Parlementaire (a legislative channel); France 5 and Arte would switch from a combined service to two separate 24-hour services in the spring of 2005. France Télévisions thus only had space for one more new channel. The group eventually proposed that Festival become a free-to-air channel. On 23 October 2002, the [[Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel|Audiovisual Superior Council]] authorised Festival to begin broadcasting in digital. France Télévisions planned for Festival to be renamed "France 8" (as it would have been the eighth television network in France) or "France Prime", but opted instead for '''France 4''' after being allocated to channel 14. The newly created France 4 proposed to present a variety of entertainment, sports, fiction, cinema and series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-01-17 |title=TNT La nouvelle chaîne publique dévoile sa ligne éditoriale |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/television/43715-20050117-television-tnt-la-nouvelle-chaine-publique-devoile-sa-ligne-editoriale |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=20 Minutes |language=fr}}</ref>

In January 2009, [[Arte]] sold its 11% share in the channel to France Télévisions for €4.62 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arte vient de céder les 11% qu'elle possédait dans le capital de France 4. M |url=https://www.telesatellite.com/actu/32995-arte-vient-de-ceder-les-11-qu-elle-possedait-dans-le.html |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=www.telesatellite.com}}</ref> In July 2009, France 4 began broadcasting in [[16:9]]. On 6 October 2011, France 4 launched its HD feed.

On 19 December 2009, France Télévisions launched Ludo, a new unique children's brand, to merge all former blocks Toowam ([[France 3]]), [[Zouzous|Les Zouzous]] ([[France 5]], for preschoolers) and KD2A ([[France 2]], the channel ceased to broadcast children shows). Ludo was broadcast on France 3 (focusing on generalist children's shows), France 5 (for preschoolers) and France 4 focused on more teenagers programs like ''[[6teen]]'', live-action shows and action shows, and broadcasts at middays and preevenings. Due to bad ratings, Ludo was removed from France 5 and France 4 on 25 June 2011: on France 5, it became Zouzous, and on France 4, the children's shows became broadcast without a branded block.

France 4 continued to broadcast cartoons only at mornings, and starting September 2013 until midday. These cartoons continued to target a teenager audience, with action shows (''[[Code Lyoko]]'', [[Wakfu (TV series)|''Wakfu'']], DC and Marvel cartoons), and sometimes more adult shows like [[Mad (TV series)|''Mad'']] and ''[[Crash Canyon]]''.

=== Reconversion to a hybrid channel (2014) ===
On 31 March 2014, France 4 got a rebrand and started to timeshare most of its daily time with the Ludo and Zouzous blocks for children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=puremedias |date=2014-03-13 |title=France 4, du neuf avec du vieux |url=https://www.ozap.com/actu/france-4-du-neuf-avec-du-vieux/452182 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.ozap.com}}</ref>

In evenings, it targeted a young adult audience, but in 2016, France 4 was refocused on family.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Sitbon|first=Prescilia|date=2016-04-19|title=Tiphaine DE RAGUENEL (France 4) : "Créer des passerelles entre l'offre de journée et l'offre en soirée est l'une des priorités"|url=https://www.lemediaplus.com/tiphaine-de-raguenel-france-4-creer-passerelles-entre-loffre-de-journee-loffre-soiree-lune-priorites/|access-date=2021-02-09|website=média+|language=fr-FR}}</ref>

===Averted closure, focus on cultural programmes===
In June 2018, a proposal was issued to shut down France 4 as part of planned reforms of France Télévisions, with programming dispersed to France 3, France 5 and online platforms. The proposal was criticised by France's animation industry.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/french-animation-industry-reacts-to-proposed-reform-on-local-broadcasting-services-1202830554/|title=French Animation Industry Dismayed by Proposed Broadcasting Reforms|last=Keslassy|first=Elsa|date=2018-06-06|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=2018-09-12|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{ill|Okoo|fr}} was launched on 9 December 2019 as the new children's television brand of France Télévisions, consisting of a programming block on France 4 and a digital platform on France.tv.<ref name="LM_05122019">{{cite web|title=Okoo, une plate-forme jeunesse pour remplacer France 4|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2019/12/05/okoo-une-plate-forme-jeunesse-pour-remplacer-france-4_6021752_3234.html|author=Nathan Cocquempot|website=[[Le Monde]]|date=5 December 2019}}.</ref> Programming and content for teens and young adults is instead available through [[France.tv Slash]].

France 4 was originally planned to close on 9 August 2020, one day after the initially planned date for the closing ceremony of the [[2020 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ozap.com/actu/france-4-et-france-o-fermeront-le-9-aout-prochain/587713|title=France 4 et France Ô fermeront le 9 août prochain|website=ozap.com|date=3 January 2020 }}</ref> However, in July 2020, just days before its planned closure, the French Government announced that the channel would continue to broadcast for another 12 months, whilst also pushing back the closure of [[France Ô]] by a month, as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in France|COVID-19 pandemic]], which [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2020 Summer Olympics|delayed the games]] to July 2021. France 4 carried school programming during the pandemic, which showed the utility of the channel.

From September 2020, the channel moved from being largely a children's entertainment channel, adding more educational programming for children and parents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kidscreen.com/2020/08/12/france-4-uses-delayed-closure-to-keep-commissioning/|title=France 4 uses delayed closure to keep commissioning}}</ref>

In January 2021, a report entitled "mission flash" was submitted to the National Assembly by two deputies in favor of safeguarding France 4, [[Béatrice Piron]] (LREM) and [[Maxime Minot]] (LR), who were charged with studying the offer for young people on public service television.<ref name=":0" /> This report judges that "a channel dedicated to youth is a valuable asset for public television" and takes up all the arguments of those who support the maintenance of France 4.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-01-27|title=Des députés défendent France 4, pourtant vouée à disparaître|language=fr|work=Le Monde.fr|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2021/01/27/une-chaine-dediee-a-la-jeunesse-est-un-acquis-precieux-pour-la-television-publique-des-deputes-defendent-france-4-pourtant-vouee-a-disparaitre_6067775_3234.html|access-date=2021-02-09}}</ref>

From 3 May 2021, France 4 began timesharing with {{ill|Culturebox|fr}}, reducing the air time from 5:00am to 8:15pm. On the 18th that same month, French president Émmanuel Macron announced that France 4 will continue airing and will not close down in August as planned.

On 26 August 2024, Okoo expanded its timeslot until 9pm, with new programming for families on weekends such as ''[[Fort Boyard (game show)|Fort Boyard]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nouveaux rendez-vous, nouvelles saisons, nouveaux horaires et programmes cultes |url=https://www.francetelevisions.fr/et-vous/notre-tele/les-programmes-a-ne-pas-rater/la-rentree-dokoo-32575 |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=France tv & vous |language=fr}}</ref>

On 13 January 2025, [[Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication|Arcom]] announced a re-numbering of DTT channels, including the move of France 4 from channel 14 to channel 4, until then occupied by [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]], from 6 June 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-01-13 |title=France 4 sur la 4, BFM-TV sur la 13… La nouvelle numérotation des chaînes sur la TNT dévoilée |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2025/01/13/france-4-sur-la-4-bfm-tv-sur-la-13-la-nouvelle-numerotation-des-chaines-sur-la-tnt-devoilee_6495899_3234.html |access-date=2025-01-15 |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-13 |title=BFMTV, LCI, CNews, France 4... Découvrez la nouvelle numérotation des chaînes de la TNT |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/medias/bfm-lci-cnews-france-4-decouvrez-la-nouvelle-numerotation-des-chaines-de-la-tnt-20250113 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nouvelle numérotation des chaînes de la TNT à compter du 6 juin 2025 |url=https://www.arcom.fr/presse/nouvelle-numerotation-des-chaines-de-la-tnt-compter-du-6-juin-2025 |website=arcom.fr |access-date=15 January 2025 |language=fr}}</ref>

==Audience share==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:auto; background:#ffffff;"
! style="background:#ffffff; color:#ffffff;" width="35px"|
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|January
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|February
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|March
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|April
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|May
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|June
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|July
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|August
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|September
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|October
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|November
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="60px"|December
! style="background:#975086; color:#ffffff;" width="75px"|Annual average
|-align="center"
|'''2007'''|| - || - || - || - ||0.4% ||0.5%||0.5%||0.6% ||0.5% ||0.4% ||0.5% ||0.6% ||0.4%
|-align="center"
|'''2008'''||0.6%  ||0.6% ||0.7% ||0.8% ||0.9% || 0.8% ||0.9% ||0.9% ||0.9% ||1.1% ||1.1% ||1.1% ||{{increase}} 0.9%
|-align="center"
|'''2009'''||1.0%   ||1.0% ||1.0% ||1.0% ||1.1% ||1.0% ||1.0% ||1.0% ||1.0% ||1.2% ||1.2% ||1.3% ||{{increase}} 1.1%
|-align="center"
|'''2010'''||1.4% ||1.4% ||1.6% ||1.7% ||1.7% ||1.6% ||1.5% ||1.5% ||1.6% ||1.7% ||1.7% ||1.8% ||{{increase}} 1.6%
|-align="center"
|'''2011'''||1.7% ||1.7% ||1.8% ||1.8% ||2.0% ||2.1% ||2.0% ||2.1% ||2.0% ||1.9% ||2.0% ||2.3% ||{{increase}} 2.0%
|-align="center"
|'''2012'''||2.3% ||2.2% ||2.0% ||2.0% ||2.3% ||2.2% ||2.0% ||2.2% ||2.1% ||2.0% ||2.0% ||1.9% ||{{increase}} 2.1%
|-align="center"
|'''2013'''||1.7% ||1.6% ||1.6% ||1.7% ||2.0% ||1.9% ||1.8% ||1.8% ||1.7% ||1.9% ||1.7% ||1.7% ||{{decrease}} 1.8%
|-align="center"
|'''2014'''||1.7% ||1.6% ||1.7% ||1.5% ||1.6% ||1.5% ||1.6% ||2.1% ||1.6% ||1.5% ||1.3% ||1.4% ||{{decrease}} 1.6%
|-align="center"
|'''2015'''||1.5% ||1.6% ||1.6% ||1.7% ||1.7% ||1.7% ||1.8% ||1.8% ||1.8% ||1.9% ||1.6% ||1.9% ||{{increase}} 1.7%
|-align="center"
|'''2016'''||1.9% ||1.9% ||1.9% ||2.0% ||2.0% ||1.7% ||2.0% ||2.1% ||1.8% ||2.0% ||1.8% ||1.9% ||{{increase}} 1.9%
|-align="center"
|'''2017'''||1.9% ||1.8% ||1.7% ||1.7% ||1.8% ||2.0% ||2.1% ||1.9% ||1.8% ||1.7% ||1.5% ||1.5% ||{{decrease}} 1.8%
|-align="center"
|'''2018'''||1.7% ||1.7% ||1.6% ||1.6% ||1.7% ||1.6% ||1.6% ||1.8% ||1.6% ||1.6% ||1.4% ||1.5% ||{{decrease}} 1.6%
|-align="center"
|'''2019'''||1.7% ||1.6% ||1.6% ||1.6% ||1.7% ||1.6% ||1.6% ||1.7% ||1.6% ||1.7% ||1.6% ||1.5% || 1.6%
|-align="center"
|'''2020'''||1.6% ||1.4% ||1.3% ||1.2% ||1,1%
|1,1%
|1,3%
|1,3%
|1,1%
|1,0%
|0,8%
|0,9%
|{{decrease}} 1,2%
|}

== Visual identity ==

=== Logos ===
<gallery>
File:Festival 2000.svg|Logo of Festival from 2000 to 2005
File:France4-logo.svg|Logo of France 4 from 2005 to 2008
File:France4-logo.png|Logo of France 4 from 2008 to 2011 and 2014 to 2018, also used as a secondary logo from 2011 to 2014
File:France 4 2014.png|2014 version used from 2014 to 2018
File:France_4_logo_2011.png|Logo of France 4 from September 2011 to April 2014
File:France 4 HD.svg|Logo of France 4 HD from 2011 to 2018
File:France 4 - logo 2018.svg|Logo of France 4 from 2018
File:France 4 2018.svg|On-screen logo of France 4 from 2018
</gallery>

=== Slogans ===
* 1996: "La chaîne des films de prestige"
* 2005: "Le plaisir avant tout"
* 2011: "Elle n'a pas fini de vous surprendre"
* 2011: "Stimulant sans arômes artificiels"
* October 2012: "L'esprit positif"
* 2014: "Ça déchaîne"

== Culturebox ==
{{Infobox programming block
| name            = Culturebox
| image           = Culuturebox logo 2021.svg
| image_size      = 150px
| alt             = 
| caption         = Final logo, used from 2021 to 2025
| formerly_known  = 
| premiered       = {{Start date and age|2008|10|20|df=y}} {{small|(Online)}}<br>{{Start date and age|2021|2|1|df=y}} {{small|(TV channel)}}
| closed          = {{end date|2025|06|06|df=y}} {{small|(as a channel timesharing with France 4)}}
| channel         = France 4
| division        = [[France Télévisions]]
| replaced        =
| country         = France
| key_people      = [[Michel Field]] (editorial director)
| headquarters    = Paris, France
| major_contracts = 
| parent          = 
| sister          =
| format          = Cultural programming
| runtime         = ~9 pm – 5 am ([[Central European Time|UTC+1/UTC+2]])
| website         = {{url|www.france.tv/spectacles-et-culture/}}
| language        = [[French language|French]]
| footnotes       = 
}}

'''Culturebox''' is an online brand of [[France Télévisions]], focusing on cultural programming, including the arts, documentaries, cinema and music.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-02|title=French public TV station launches channel to boost struggling culture sector|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20210202-french-public-tv-station-launches-culturebox-channel-to-boost-struggling-culture-sector-covid-19|access-date=2021-02-02|website=RFI|language=en|archive-date=2 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202140443/https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20210202-french-public-tv-station-launches-culturebox-channel-to-boost-struggling-culture-sector-covid-19|url-status=live}}</ref> From 3 May 2021 to 6 June 2025, it has operated as a [[Block programming|programming block]], timesharing on France 4 with Okoo, each day from around 8pm until 5am the next day.

Among other programmes, Culturebox has broadcast the semi-finals of the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] since {{escyr|2021}}.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 July 2021|title=FRANCE 2022 : Stéphane Bern et Laurence Boccolini reconduits pour Eurovision France|url=http://www.eurovision-fr.net/news/lire.php?id=6816|access-date=26 July 2021|website=Eurovision-fr.net|language=fr}}</ref> The average number of viewers of the channel between February and April 2021 has been estimated at 25.6 million per month.<ref>{{cite web|date=6 May 2021|title=Pourquoi Culturebox, chaîne éphémère, est prolongée|url=http://www.leprogres.fr/societe/2021/05/06/pourquoi-culturebox-chaine-ephemere-est-prolongee|access-date=22 October 2021|work=[[Le Progrès]]|language=fr}}</ref>

Culturebox shuts down at midnight on 6 June 2025, however all cultural programmes continue to be broadcast but under the France 4 brand. The website also disappears in favor of an "Arts and Entertainment" page on the france.tv platform.

===Brand history===
[[File:France.tv Culturebox (2018).svg|thumb|left|A former web logo (2018)]]
Culturebox was initially launched as a website in October 2008 by France 3 as a cultural platform,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.programme.tv/news/actu/2830-france-3-lance-sa-culturebox-sur-le-web/|title=France 3 lance sa Culturebox sur le Web|first=Guillaume|last=Leroy|date=October 20, 2008|website=Télé 2 semaines}}</ref> offering on the internet a selection of subjects broadcast on the channel's national and regional news editions. On 19 June 2013, the website became the cultural platform of the France Télévisions group, changing its content to offering shows (theatre plays & concerts); some of which were broadcast live.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/medias/culturebox-la-nouvelle-plateforme-numerique-de-france-televisions_1259173.html|title=Culturebox: la nouvelle plateforme numérique de France Télévisions|date=June 20, 2013|website=LExpress.fr}}</ref> In 2016, following the launch of the television channel [[France Info (TV channel)|France Info]], a program devoted to cultural news was launched under the name of Culturebox, and presented by {{ill|Leïla Kaddour-Boudadi|fr}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://medias.lenodal.com/video.php?id=18893|title=vidéo : Bande-annonce Culturebox - franceinfo (2016)|website=medias.lenodal.com}}</ref>

=== Broadcast ===
On 1 February 2021 at 8:35pm,<ref>{{cite web|title=La chaîne Culturebox lancée lundi sur le canal 19 |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2021/01/27/la-chaine-culturebox-lancee-lundi-sur-le-canal-19-9337233.php |website=ladepeche.fr |access-date=2021-01-27}}</ref> Culturebox was launched as a separate channel in [[Metropolitan France|mainland France]] taking the EPG position of [[France Ô]], closed a few months before. The channel was available on channel 19 in terrestrial in mainland France only. France 4 and France Info were downgraded to SD to make room on the multiplex.<ref>{{cite web |title=(MàJ) Concernant la diffusion de la chaîne éphémère " Culturebox " en Outre-Mer ! |url=http://actu-medias.info/2021/01/culturebox-pas-disponible-tnt-ultramarine.html |website=ActuMédias Outre-Mer |access-date=2021-01-28}}.</ref>

After this initial run ended, the [[Ministry of Culture (France)|Minister of Culture]] announced an extension of the channel as a time-share during the evenings on France 4, which returned to HD on terrestrial.<ref>{{cite web |language=fr-FR |title=Covid-19 : la chaîne Culturebox, créée pour aider la culture, est prolongée jusqu'en août |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/maladie/coronavirus/covid-19-la-chaine-culturebox-creee-pour-aider-la-culture-est-prolongee-jusqu-en-aout_4375913.html |website=Franceinfo |date=2021-04-17 |access-date=2021-04-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |language=Fr |title=Culturebox : la chaîne éphémère de France Télévisions qui soutient la culture est prolongée |url=https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/actualites/A14633 |website=service-public.fr|date=2021-04-22|access-date=2021-04-28}}</ref> Culturebox had been shown there each evening, from 3 May 2021 to 6 June 2025.

==See also==
* [[France Télévisions]]
* [[France 4#Culturebox|Culturebox]]
* {{ill|Okoo|fr}} (Children's programming block on France 3, France 4 and France 5)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.france4.fr}} {{in lang|fr}}

{{France Télévisions}}
{{French television stations}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:France Télévisions|04]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1996]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in France]]
[[Category:French-language television stations]]
[[Category:Television stations in France]]
[[Category:Children's television networks]]
[[Category:Classic television networks]]