France Bleu

France Bleu is a network of local and regional radio stations in France, part of the national public broadcasting group Radio France. The network has a public service mission to serve local audiences and provides local news and content from each of its forty-four stations.

France Bleu

City	Paris
Broadcast area	France
Frequency	FM 87.6–107.3 MHz
Slogan	"Vu d'ici" ("As seen from here")
Programming
Language(s)	French
Format	Adult contemporary, French music, Local news
Ownership
Owner	Radio France
Sister stations	franceinfo France Inter France Culture France Musique Fip Mouv'
History
First air date	4 September 2000
Former call signs	Radio Bleue Locales de Radio France
Links
Website	www.francebleu.fr

France Bleu was created in 2000 by a fusion of two older Radio France networks, Les locales de Radio France and Radio Bleue. The flagship station in Paris goes by the name of France Bleu 107.1, while the individual stations are each named for their respective coverage areas, usually a département, région, or city.

Claude Perrier has been director of the France Bleu network since 2013. His predecessors include Philippe Chaffanjon (2012–2013) and Anne Brucy (2010–2012).

History

Les locales de Radio France

In 1980, Jacqueline Baudrier, Chief Director of Radio France[1] created three new experimental local radio stations. Fréquence Nord, Radio Mayenne and Melun FM were created to cover a region, départment and a town respectively.[2] These stations were in complement to those already existing under the management of FR3 since 1975, following the break-up of the state broadcaster ORTF. Radio France assumed control of all stations in 1982, with the number of stations reaching 40 by the 1990s.[3]

Its programming was essentially local except for music (which usually came from sister station FIP, or national programming by satellite, called Programme Modulation France), combined with news bulletins from France Inter. These stations were individually called Radio France_____ followed by its coverage area, but were grouped under the name Les locales de Radio France.[3]

Radio Bleue

Similarly in 1980, Baudrier also launched a new network, this time aimed at the over-50 demographic, called Radio Bleue.[4] It started as a morning-only service which used a national mediumwave network, shared with educational programming. By the 1990s, it expanded its schedule, broadcasting until the evening and secured three FM frequencies from the radio regulator the CSA in three cities: Paris, Cannes, and Valence.

Plan Bleu (2000–2010)

In 2000, following a review of all radio services, Radio France director, Jean-Marie Cavada, initiated its Plan Bleu, essentially a vast re-organisation of its radio frequencies. Under the plan the local radio stations (Les locales de Radio France) were to be syndicated with Radio Bleue to form one network – the unified France Bleu officially launched on 4 September 2000 at 5:00am CET. Its network of thirty-eight local radio stations were all renamed "France Bleu ______", followed by its broadcast area, to bring the network closer to the Radio France family of stations. Expanding its coverage, local FM frequencies in small to medium-sized towns were reattributed to France Bleu. Under the same plan frequencies in bigger markets switched to youth network Le Mouv' and FIP stations were drastically cut back to five locations.[5]

News bulletins from France Inter were gradually replaced with its own service, and journalists for the local stations now supply rolling news station France Info with news items, having previously relied on its bigger sister stations for news.

Paris region

2002 marked the arrival of a dedicated local service for the Paris region, with the launch of La CityRadio de Paris, using the 107.1 frequency from the previous Radio Bleue FM network.[6][7] Conversely the France Bleu network handed over the totality of its mediumwave network to France Info.[8]

In 2005 Radio France chief Jeal-Paul Cluzel wished to create a regional station, finding the CityRadio name too limiting,[9] therefore nearby France Bleu Melun based sixty kilometres away was slated for a merger, signalling closure on 16 December 2005 after more than twenty-five years on-air. The combined stations were re-launched as a single service, France Bleu Île-de-France, on 2 January 2006.[10] The name was changed to France Bleu 107.1 in September 2009.

Expansion and validation (2010–present)

The value of France Bleu was starting to be more widely recognised. In April 2000, the network achieved its record audience, achieving a 7.5% share and 330,000 new listeners,[11] putting the national listenership at under 4 million. In 2010 at the request of French Prime Minister François Fillon, France Bleu Maine, covering Le Mans and La Sarthe was created on 1 June. Mr Fillon is a native of Le Mans. In 2011 it was confirmed that local public radio is to appear in Toulouse.[12] France Bleu Toulouse launched on 23 February [13] and marked a return of local public radio to the city after a 14-year absence. Its previous outlet, Radio France Toulouse was closed in order to make way for national youth station Le Mouv'.[14] Le Mouv' has since relocated to Paris.[15] The 44th station was launched on September 2013: France Bleu Saint-Etienne Loire. Based in Saint-Etienne, the local radio covers the city of Saint-Etienne, Roanne and a part of La Loire.

Slogans

• 1991–2000: Les locales
• 2000–2002: Toutes les FranceS sont sur France Bleu
• 2002–2005: La vie tout en bleu
• 2005–2008: Vivre en bleu, c'est mieux
• Since August 2008: Vu d'ici

Regional stations and their main frequencies

Station coverage around France.

Logo	Name of the station	Frequencies	RDS name
	France Bleu Alsace	BAS-RHIN (67) : Strasbourg - 101.4 Niederbronn-les-Bains - 99.8 Plaine-Cote - 103.1 Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines - 106.6 Sarre-Union - 107.0 Wissembourg - 94.6 HAUT-RHIN (68) : Saint-Amarin - 101.5 Munster - 104.9 Oderen - 98.5 Mulhouse - 102.6 Masevaux - 101.5 Lapoutroie - 101.5	BLEUALSA
	France Bleu Armorique	CÔTES D'ARMOR (22) : Quintin - 102.7 Pleneuf-Val-André - 105.0 Chatelaudren - 93.3 Saint-Brieuc - 104.5 ILLE-ET-VILAINE (35) : Rennes - 103.1 Vitré - 101.6 Redon - 87.9 Fougères - 100.2 MORBIHAN (56) : Josselin - 106.1 La Roche Bernard - 96.2 Rohan - 106.4 Vannes - 101.3	BLEUARMO
	France Bleu Auxerre	YONNE (89) : Auxerre - 101.3 et 103.5 Sens - 100.5 Ancy le Franc - 92.5 Tonnerre - 103.5 NIÈVRE (58) : Nevers - 104.0	BLEU_AUX
	France Bleu Azur	ALPES MARITIMES (06) : Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - 94.4 Nice - 103.8 Menton - 94.8 Utelle - 106.0 Contes - 94.4 VAR (83) : Saint-Raphaël - 100.7	BLEUAZUR
	France Bleu Béarn	Pau 102.5	BLEU.BEA
	France Bleu Belfort-Montbéliard	Belfort 106.8 Montbéliard 94.6	BLEUBELF
	France Bleu Berry	Bourges et le Cher 103.2 Argenton-sur-Creuse 93,5 Issoudun 89,3 Châteauroux 95,2	BLEU.BER
	France Bleu Besançon	Besançon 102.8 ou 101.4 Vesoul 94.4 Lons-le-Saunier 103.0 Morteau 103.9 Pontarlier 97.2 Ornans 90.3 Saint-Hippolyte 87.6 [16]	BLEUBESA
	France Bleu Bourgogne	Nuits-Saint-Georges 103.7 Chalon-sur-Saône 103.1 Troyes Les Riceys 87.8	BLEUBOUR
	France Bleu Breizh Izel	Fréq. Générale 93.0 Quimper 98.6 Brest 99.3 Lorient 90.4 Guingamp 101.4	BLEU-BZH
	France Bleu Champagne-Ardenne	Reims 95.1	BLEUCHAM
	France Bleu Cotentin	Digosville 100.7	BLEU.COT
	France Bleu Creuse	Guéret 94.3 Aubusson 92.4 Auzances 94.8	BLEU.CRE
	France Bleu Drôme Ardèche	Annonay 87.7 Valence 87.9 Montélimar 100.9 Pierrelatte 103.8	BLEUDROM
	France Bleu Elsass	Diffusée seulement sur l'Internet.
	France Bleu Gard Lozère	Nîmes 90.2	BLEUGARD
	France Bleu Gascogne	Ascain 100.5	BLEUGASC
	France Bleu Gironde	Bordeaux 100.1	BLEU.GIR
	France Bleu Hérault	Montpellier 101.1	BLEU.HER
	France Bleu Isère	Doizieux 101.8	BLEU.ISE
	France Bleu La Rochelle	La Rochelle 98.2 Fréq. générale 103.9 Royan 103.6 Saintes 103.9 Angoulême 101.5	BLEU.LR.
	France Bleu Limousin	Limoges 103.5 Nord Haute-Vienne 92.5	BLEU.LIM
	France Bleu Loire Océan	Nantes 101.8 Fréq. générale 101.8 Saint-Nazaire/La Baule 88.1 Châteaubriant 98.6 La Roche-sur-Yon 93.2 Les Sables-d'Olonne 99.9 Mareuil/Luçon 101.5 Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie 96.9 Angers 88.5	BLEU.L.O
	France Bleu Lorraine Nord	Metz 98.5 Forbach 98.8 Thionville 101.5 Sarreguemines 104.0	BLEULORN
	France Bleu Maine	Le Mans 96.0 Fréq. générale 96.0 La Flèche 91.7 Sablé-sur-Sarthe 105.7	BLEUMAIN
	France Bleu Mayenne	Sainte-Gemmes-le-Robert 96.6	BLEU.MAY
	France Bleu Nord	Valenciennes - 87.7 Lille - 87.8 et 94.7 Maubeuge - 88.1 Dunkerque - 92.6 Boulogne-sur-Mer - 95.5 Etaples - 97.8 Calais - 106.2	BLEUNORD
	France Bleu Normandie (Calvados - Orne)	Le Plessis-Grimoult 102.6	BLEU.B.N
	France Bleu Normandie (Seine-Maritime - Eure)	Rouen 100.1 Le Havre 95.1	BLEU.H.N
	France Bleu Occitanie	Toulouse 90.5 Montauban 97.2 Albi 103.7 Agen 99.4 Rodez 106.2 Auch 96.7 Cahors 97.3 Pamiers 100.7 Villefranche-de-Rouergue 96.2 Saint-Gaudens 96.4 Figeac 90.0	BLEU.OC
	France Bleu Orléans	Orléans 100.9	BLEU.ORL
	France Bleu Paris	Paris 107.1 Melun & Provins 92.7 Fontainebleau 103.3 Nemours 101.4	BLEU
	France Bleu Pays Basque	Ascain 101.3	BLEUBASQ
	France Bleu Pays d'Auvergne	Clermont-Ferrand 102.5 et 102.0 Ambert 99.5 Aurillac 100.2 Moulins 99.9 Montluçon 96.7 Saint-Flour 100.1	BLEU.AUV
	France Bleu Pays de Savoie	SAVOIE (73) : Chambéry 103.9 Lescheraines 88.8 Montmélian 103.9 Albertville 103.9 Saint Jean de Maurienne 103.6 Modane 103.6 Bonneval-sur-Arc 103.9 Val-d'Isère 103.9 HAUTE-SAVOIE (74) : Annecy 95.2 Gex (Lake Geneva) 106.1 Chatel 93.8 La Forclaz 106.7 Cluses 107.3 Combloux 105.9 Morzine 103.6 Saint-Gervais-les-Bains 103.9 Megève 106.4 Chamonix 100.5	BLEU.SAV
	France Bleu Périgord	Audrix 99.0 Périgueux 99.3 Limoges - Nord Dordogne 91.7	BLEUPERI
	France Bleu Picardie	OISE (60) : Noyon - 94.4 Beauvais - 106.8 SOMME (80) : Montdidier - 93.2 Gamaches - 103.3 Amiens - 100.2 Poix-de-Picardie - 101.8 Doullens - 88.1 Sailly-Saillisel - 102.8 Abbeville - 100.6	BLEU.PIC
	France Bleu Poitou	Fréq. générale 106.4 Poitiers 87.6 Niort 101.0 Châtellerault 103.3	BLEUPOIT
	France Bleu Provence	Marseille 103.6 Toulon 102.9	BLEUPROV
	France Bleu RCFM	Bastia 101.7 Ajaccio 97.0 / 100.5	BLEURCFM
	France Bleu Roussillon	Sorède 101.6	BLEUROUS
	France Bleu Saint-Étienne Loire	Saint-Étienne 97.1 Roanne 100.2 Le Puy-en-Velay 101.1	BLEUSTET
	France Bleu Sud Lorraine	Nancy 100.5 Épinal 100.0	BLEUSLOR
	France Bleu Touraine	Tours 105.0	BLEUTOUR
	France Bleu Vaucluse	Grand Avignon 98.8 Vaucluse 100.4 Sud Luberon 88.6	BLEUVAUC

References

1. FIP Blog, retrieved 26-02-2011 Archived January 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
2. "Franceinfo - Actualités en temps réel et info en direct". Francetvinfo.fr. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
3. "SchooP - La mémoire de la FM > Histoire des radios". Schoop.fr. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
4. "SchooP - La mémoire de la FM > Histoire des radios". Schoop.fr. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
5. RadioActu, published 20 October 2000 Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
6. "SchooP - La mémoire de la FM > Histoire des radios". Schoop.fr. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
7. Guy Banville (2 September 2008). "CityRadio de Paris". YouTube. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
8. "FM Scan website, retrieved 26-02-2011". Fmscan.org. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
9. "RadioActu, published 8 September 2005". Radioactu.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
10. "L'île de france a". Irma.asso.fr. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
11. "RadioActu, published 15 April 2010". Radioactu.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
12. "Le Parisien, reported 29 November 2009". Leparisien.fr. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-02-26. Retrieved 2011-02-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2011-02-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
15. Le Mouv déménage à Paris, Nouvel Observateur, published 6 June 2010 Archived July 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
16. "Les fréquences de la radio FRANCE BLEU BESANCON dans toute la France". Frequence-radio.org. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

External links

• Official website
• Radio France Website