No new frequency in Breton in the Tregor-Goëlo area: a shameful decision.

[Youenn]

No new frequency in Breton in the Tregor-Goëlo area : a shameful decision.

The CSA has just returned its verdict concerning new frequencies on the FM band. We acknowledge their decision with deep regret. There will be no new frequency in the Breton language at all for the Tregor-Goëlo area.

The Kaouenn FM application was complete and thorough. It was supported by local councillors, associations and their members (who we would like to thank a lot). It also had a very sensible budget, a very good technical infrastructure and a well-designed schedule.

The CSA decision reminds us that not so long ago, during a dark period of our recent history, students were punished if they spoke in Breton.

Indeed with this decision the CSA and the CTR (the CSA regional branch in Rennes that conducted the investigation) are informing the Tregor-Goëlo inhabitants that they are forbidden to speak Breton on the radio.

Even worse, this decision prevents the area of Brittany, where most people speak Breton, to listen to Breton radio, except for the few minutes that are 'generously' given to us by the French Bleu Breiz Izel public service.

In Lannion, where Kaouenn FM had sent its application, only a few frequencies have been made available by the CSA and offered to candidates. The CSA claims that there were no frequency left on the FM band and for a very good reason indeed!

People can listen to France Inter, France Culture and France Musique on two different frequencies and sometimes even three (the last one being of very bad quality.) Who has ever had the experience of always finding the same radio stations when launching an automatic search on their car radio?

Here are some figures that do not need any explanation. On France Bleu, Breton gets 14 weekly hours of air time out of 168 hours, which means that only 8.3% of France Bleu programmes are in Breton.

If we look at all the FM radios in the Lannion area (2856 hours) only 0.5% of the programmes are in Breton. If the application by Kaouenn radio had been accepted however 5.7% of the programmes would have been in Breton, when 42% of the population claim to understand Breton.

Instead of this, the percentage is due to decrease to 0.4%. How long still will the Breton language be despised ?

What kind of a democracy allows a handful of people to prevent a whole population (90%) from speaking its language in daily life ? Once again, language rights seem to be asymmetrically distributed in France.

What is good for Corsicans is not for good for Bretons! Patrick Sabatier's Parisian programme is still broadcast on France Bleu Breizh Izel, while Corsica refuses to give away this 'local' time and keep it for programmes in their own language.

We know the solution to the problem. The Brittany region needs to demand that one frequency in each zone, where there are currently no Breton radio stations, be exclusively devoted to programmes in Breton.

This way Bretons would have the possibility of listening to Breton or French at whatever time of the day. Kaouenne FM therefore calls for local councillors to publicly express their opinion about the CSA decision.

We would like to call for every one - associations and individuals - to keep supporting Kaouenn FM.

We will soon hold our General Assembly to prepare for the future so that, whatever happens, Bretons will be still be able to listen to programmes in Breton. An neb a venn hennezh a ch'ell.

Source : http://www.agencebretagnepresse.com/...ul%20decision.

[Cirrus]

It's just like "TV Breizh".

cf. communiqué

I don't think that Scottish or Welsh people would accept such treatment.