Dear all, I am beginning to work on a French research project to analyze the current French TV cartoon offer for young children (and possibly extend the analysis to older kids). One of the main issues I will analyze is what has happened/is happening to public television in France through this perspective of children's programming, specifically by comparing cartoon production . Cartoons are the dominant genre of children's programming in France. In reference to preschool cartoons, my proposal entails comparing the programming of France's main public channel (France 5) to a few of the main private and thematic cartoon cable/satellite channels. Having been an insignificant player until the 1980s, France ranks today as the world's third largest producer of television cartoons. France is also Europe's greatest animation producer ( an average of 280 hours for the years of 2000-2005). France ranks as Europe's biggest exporter (62,3 million Euros in 2004). Animation is also the genre most produced by the French (followed by documentaries and fiction). The bulk of this cartoon production (80% of the total) comprises series with episodes in the 13 or 26 minute format, destined for 6 to 10 year-olds, with an average budget of 3-7 million Euros for a series of 26 minutes (26 episodes). (CNC 2006) My comparison of current programming would analyze criteria such as genre, cultural/educational content, format, cost (when available), audience ratings (if available), production data, and the advertisements that are shown along with the series (product type, message). I propose to compare the cartoon series programming during one week, from 6 a.m.-midnight, during the regular cartoon series season (outside vacations and holidays). My comparison would include the following five channels: France 5 (free, public), TF1 (free, private), Piwi and Tiji (thematic, private, cable), Disney (thematic, private, foreign, cable). Main hypotheses One of my main hypotheses, based on my readings so far, is that, if compared to the selected private channels, the main public channel for preschool children's animation in France (France 5) will not display any significant difference concerning the series' genres, the percentage of educational content compared to exclusively entertaining themes, the cultural and artistic quality level, and the series formats. It is proof that, in reference to multiple criteria, children's cartoon programming on public television in France is indistinguishable from the programming of private channels. However, there may be other criteria where we may find significant differences and I hope that the proposed comparison will bring them to light (for exemple, differences concerning the number of original French productions, advertisement (quantity, product type, target), and audience measurements). Another important hypothesis is that one of the cardinal functions of the French public channels as it concerns the animation market is to fortify the French animation industry. However, the main production companies in this sector are private, forming a monopoly of approximately 10 companies. Consequently, this means that the public television channels are at the service of this private monopoly. (The exact manner of how the public channels co-finance and co-produce cartoon series is not clear to me at this point, but it is another important aspect of the complexity found in this mixed public-private dynamics of the current French television animation industry). Nevertheless, this monopolistic structure is not absolute, allowing the participation of other less important companies along with a variety of other players active in the marketplace. Moreover, this support function of the public channels for the French animation producers is further reinforced by various types of aid offered by the French government along with other more recent European initiatives to support all European animation industries. If this subject or research proposal is of interest to any list members, I would very much appreciate receiving comments on the proposed research project or structure, or suggestions for related bibliography. Best regards, V Britto Univ. de Toulouse Toulouse, France ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.ScreenSite.org