The Figaro Group, growing in 2022, launches its own TV and radio channel

The Figaro Group, which achieved a 15% increase in turnover in 2022 and has 400,000 subscribers to its daily newspaper, announced on Sunday that it was preparing to launch its own TV channel and digital radio station.

Although the group did not disclose its results, it stated in a press release that it was "close to its 2019 level of activity, before the health crisis", with revenues reaching 570 million euros and an operating result of 33 million, up by more than 6%.

With the rise in paper prices, the daily newspaper and magazines have suffered an additional cost of 15 million euros but the increase in their advertising revenue has stabilised their results.

The group, which is present in the media, travel, marketing/advertising and ticketing sectors, generates 60% of its turnover through digital media.

On the newspaper side, Le Figaro now has 400,000 subscribers, of which 270,000 are digital subscribers only.

In 2023, 1,500 of the group's nearly 2,000 employees will leave the head office in Paris and move to two other Parisian offices in the 9th and 15th arrondissements.

This year the group will invest around 30 million euros in the audiovisual sector for the launch of a terrestrial television channel, Le Figaro TV, and a digital radio station, Le Figaro Radio. The contents of the two projects will be detailed in March.

"Our objective is that by 2026 - the 200th anniversary of the daily newspaper - our content will be present in all formats and across all news channels broadcasting in this country," explains Marc Feuillée, the group's managing director, referring to France.

Already present on social networks, in particular via Figaro Live, launched in 2017, Le Figaro wants to develop "an audiovisual universe" around its brand, which, in terms of advertising, will make it possible to offer campaigns in all formats, the director continues.

The group will also invest in its editorial activities including the implementation of a new content management system, its commercial activities including the overhaul of customer management tools and in its regional activities in four offices in Bordeaux, Lyon, Nantes and Nice.