PAPE'ETE (OFO): Former RFO editor-in-chief Daniel Franco has been formally appointed as newly-created Tahiti Nui Television (TNTV) general

manager in French Polynesia, reports Radio 1.

Frenchman Franco, 53, a former news director with Paris-based Radio France Internationale, was editor-in-chief of RFO (Réseau France Outremer, France's television and radio network for Overseas departments and territories) in French Polynesia up until end of 1998.

He then became the head of French Polynesia President Gaston Flosse's Press Department.

TNTV was set up late June with one free-to-air channel and several pay services, including Television-Internet packages.

Previous management has fiercely protested against allegations that TNTV

(which was strongly backed by the local government) was "too close" to the Presidential office.

Franco was appointed after a former choice, Robert Piétri, declined to take up the position, Radio Bleue earlier said.

Meanwhile, the Paris-based Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (Media Council) is sending a fact-finding mission on the French territory in order to "monitor the media scene".

The mission is from December 4 to 8.

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