Ayem Nour recently opened up about her departure from NRJ12, coinciding with the channel's planned closure set for March 1, 2025. During her appearance on Magali Berdah's newly launched YouTube show, "Bienvenue chez Madame Berdah," Nour expressed her disappointment and reflections on this chapter of her career.
The situation is quite complex. Back in July, the French audiovisual regulator, Arcom, made the unprecedented decision not to renew licenses for both C8 and NRJ12, leading to widespread uproar. Many media personalities rallied to try to reverse the decision, and C8 even launched a petition which quickly garnered over one million signatures. The closure announcement was met with disbelief and disappointment from fans and former employees alike.
NRJ12 had promised its viewers one last exceptional night on February 28, 2025, with Ayem Nour slated to host the farewell show titled "20 ans de grandes émotions," where nostalgic highlights and beloved personalities from the station would be invited back to share memories.
Nour reflected on the closure saying, "C’est la fin d’une époque. Je suis très déçue. C’est décevant pour les équipes, les téléspectateurs, tout une génération… C’est injuste, il faut de la télé pour tout le monde." One can feel the weight of her words, as this transformation will impact not just the employees but the viewers accustomed to their favorite programs.
Diving deep, she then shared her personal reasons for leaving the Mag. "Les audiences étaient très bonnes. J’ai eu mon petit prince. J’ai eu le déclic, j'ai eu l’impression de rater plein de moments, comme les premiers pas de mon fils," she revealed, expressing regret over missing significant life moments due to her demanding work schedule. The struggles many working parents face—balancing careers and family—are poignantly laid bare here.
Nour’s departure sparked tension within the NRJ12 team: "Tout se passait très bien, ils m’en ont voulu quand j’ai décidé de partir…" She felt the emotional toll and the reaction from her peers was notable, underscoring the challenges faced within competitive media environments.
Reflecting on her compensation, she disclosed, "Moi aussi c’était mon salaire (…) J’étais excessivement bien payée, j’étais excessivement bien traitée (…) j’étais payée plus qu’une animatrice," acknowledging her high monthly salary of between 10,000 and 20,000 euros. This candid admission highlights the often-glamorized yet cutthroat nature of television jobs.
A couple of other notable personalities, including Benoît Dubois, were also present during the show, sharing their own insights and humorous takes on the situation, which highlighted the absurdity and seriousness of NRJ12's fate.
With the clock ticking down to NRJ12's closure, Ayem’s emotional farewell encapsulates not just the end of her professional tenure at the channel but the shift of generations as television continues to evolve.
It’s clear to see how far-reaching the impact of channel closures can be, feeling personal and professional—casting ripples across viewers, staff, and the very fabric of entertainment. Ayem Nour's story sheds light on the fragility of careers behind the camera, intertwined with individual lives, dreams, and aspirations.