One Year After the Liberation, French Broadcasting Recovers

At the time of the Liberation, Radiodiffusion française (French broadcasting) had to rise again from the ruins. Bombings and deliberate destruction by the retreating German army had drastically reduced transmission capabilities. In 1939, France had 32 transmitters, public and private, with a total power of 2,600 kW. At the Liberation, only about fifteen were still operational, and their combined power barely amounted to 175 kW (including 140 kW from the intact Limoges transmitter and 15 kW from Grenoble). Now under state monopoly, broadcasting no longer had access to the longwave transmitter at Allouis, nor to those that broadcast shortwave programs to the colonies and abroad.

The former Radio-Cité transmitter in Argenteuil was blown up by the German army.

By the end of October 1944, French broadcasting could rely on 19 transmitters, including a 24 kW unit for Paris, restarted at Villebon by the Americans. By January 1, 1945, the network had 21 transmission sites. This number rose to 27 by April 1, notably with the commissioning of a 100 kW transmitter for the Paris region. As early as January 15, part of the network was used for a second program, the Parisian Channel.

One year after the Liberation, Radiodiffusion française could count on 538 kW—about one-third of its pre-war power.

National Channel – Chaîne nationale
Paris 696 kc (431.7 m), 100 kW. Grenoble 968 kc (309.9 m), 15 kW. Limoges I 648 kc (463 m), 120 kW. Limoges II 832 kc (360.6 m) after 6 p.m., 20 kW. Lyon 895 kc (335.2 m), 120 kW. Marseille 749 kc (400.5 m), 10 kW. Toulouse 913 kc (328.6 m), 40 kW. Nice 1185 kc (253.1 m), 60 kW.

Parisian Channel – Chaîne parisienne
Paris 776 kc (386.6 m), 10 kW. Lyon 1393 kc (215.4 m), 25 kW. Limoges II until 6 p.m. 832 kc (360.6 m), 20 kW. Limoges III after 6 p.m. 1456 kc (206 m).

What about programming ?

Equipment had also been severely damaged. Radiodiffusion française often had to make do with makeshift means in facilities spread across 35 buildings, between which telephone communication was not always reliable.

In terms of music, listeners rediscovered classical composers who had been banned from the airwaves during the war. For popular music, during this period of post-war purges, many artists were no longer broadcast while their conduct during the war was being reviewed. This allowed new talents to emerge.

Public broadcasts resume

Around December 1944, public broadcasts resumed. The first were concerts by the National Orchestra, including two programs: The Soldier’s Hour and Franco-Allied Music Hall. Meanwhile, Max Régnier, a former host of Poste Parisien, presented The Optimists’ Club before later moving to Radio Luxembourg.

The program Pêle-Mêle at the Washington studio.

Starting October 9, 1945, there was also the weekly Tuesday evening program on the Parisian Channel, Pêle-Mêle, hosted by Jean-Jacques Vital, known for his role in the Famille Duraton serial. This show functioned like a talent show judged by a panel. The musical segment was performed by Michel Emer’s orchestra, and public recordings were made at the Washington studio, in former Radio-Cité facilities requisitioned by the state.

Jacques Hélian’s orchestra in Cercle des étoiles.

Also on the National Channel, Cercle des étoiles aired from the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées on Saturdays at 8 p.m., featuring Jacques Hélian’s orchestra (first broadcast on October 6, 1945). Some theatrical performances were also occasionally broadcast.