On March 21, 2025, M6 announced that Jonathan Curiel will succeed Régis Ravanas as head of the group's radio stations, which include RTL, Fun Radio, and RTL2. Curiel's appointment comes at a time when RTL has been facing a notable decline in its audience numbers.
Régis Ravanas' departure from his radio duties marks a notable shift, as he will become the director-general of RMC BFM, a transition announced roughly ten days prior by its owner, CMA Media, which is a subsidiary of the shipowner CMA CGM controlled by the billionaire Rodolphe Saadé.
Curiel, aged 44, comes to the position after spending just a year as the director of content for France Inter. His previous career has largely been intertwined with M6, where he began in 2008 as a project manager for then-chairman Nicolas de Tavernost. After a four-year stint directing Paris Première, he ascended to the role of deputy director-general of programs at M6 in 2018. He continued to lead the programming of magazines and documentaries for M6's television channels starting in 2019.
As Curiel steps into his new role, he will oversee not just RTL but also Fun Radio and RTL2, although the timeline for RTL2's coverage has not yet been specified. This broader responsibility reflects M6's confidence in Curiel’s experience in navigating challenges in television programming.
The backdrop to this leadership change is the recruitment of Cyril Hanouna, a well-known and often controversial television host, who is set to join Fun Radio this coming September. David Larramendy, president of the M6 group, engaged Hanouna in hopes of revitalizing the airwaves of RTL amidst declining viewership, despite the controversy surrounding the host's previous fallout and public image. His impending arrival at Fun Radio has generated considerable concern among M6's internal stakeholders.
Hanouna's reputation for stirring polarizing opinions presents both an opportunity and a risk for RTL's revitalization efforts. His impact on audience engagement remains to be seen; however, some within M6 have voiced doubts, suggesting that his hiring could exacerbate existing tensions rather than provide the solution needed to bolster decreasing audiences.
As Jonathan Curiel prepares to take the reins at M6's radio stations, there's an air of anticipation around whether he can reinvigorate RTL and align the brands under his leadership. The challenge of stabilizing RTL's audience reach while integrating Hanouna's unique style will require strategic innovation and a delicate balance in programming decisions.
This moment represents a pivotal transition for M6’s radio sector, underscoring the challenges traditional radio faces in an evolving media landscape. Curiel's extensive background at M6 provides a foundation from which he might address these challenges effectively.
As the group moves forward, the hope is to reclaim the audience's trust and viewing habits. The next season with new leadership, alongside the controversial aspirations surrounding Hanouna, sets the stage for a compelling chapter for M6’s radio operations. Only time will tell if Curiel can navigate these waters smoothly and steer the stations toward a successful future.
