Two social worlds ''professionals and decision-maker'' coexist in tele
vision. Except for a subgroup of older professionals who now hold top
positions in programming, the decision-makers' world is grounded in an
economic, political or administrative rationality, which has very lit
tle to do with the values defended by professionals. The decision-maki
ng elite's values prevail over professional programmers'. As a consequ
ence, a deep cleavage runs through French television; and no authentic
debate about social issues can take place on TV.