Pierre Bellanger
Encyclopedia
Pierre Bellanger is founder and CEO of Skyrock
, the world’s leading French-language social network. Bellanger created Skyrock in 1985 as a national FM station in France. Today, it ranks as the country's most popular radio station among 13- to 24-year-olds, with four million listeners each day.
As a biology student in late 1970s Paris, Bellanger participated in the Free Radio
movement that helped to topple the state’s monopoly on broadcasting. Since then, as an entrepreneur in media and Internet, he has created a TV station, several radio stations, as well as numerous cable and satellite services. His interactive experience began in the mid-1980s with the Minitel
and phone services. His first Internet company was created in 1994 as a joint venture with France Telecom.
Bellanger is the author of two books: “The Future of Radio” (1992) and “Convergence is Code” (2003). In 2006, the French Ministry of Culture and Communication named him to the Counsel for Strategic Analysis of Cultural and Communications Industries.
In 2004, Bellanger helped to spearhead the French government’s introduction of the Dispositif Alerte-Enlèvement, modeled on the North American “AMBER Alert
” systems.
On 5 February 2010, Bellanger's sentence for the sexual offence of conviction of a minor, for which he was originally jailed for 4 years (3 suspended), was reduced to 3 years suspended and a 50,000 euro fine. The French judges upheld the findings of the trial and Bellanger remains a convicted sexual offender.
Skyrock
Skyrock.com is a social networking site offering its members a free web space where they can create a blog, add a profile, and exchange messages with other registered members...
, the world’s leading French-language social network. Bellanger created Skyrock in 1985 as a national FM station in France. Today, it ranks as the country's most popular radio station among 13- to 24-year-olds, with four million listeners each day.
As a biology student in late 1970s Paris, Bellanger participated in the Free Radio
Free Radio
Free Radio is a television show, created by Lance Krall and Rory Rosegarten. The show originated on VH1, but has also played on Comedy Central, and Super Channel . It stars Lance Krall, prominent for his role on The Joe Schmo Show, and Anna Vocino, who also starred with Krall on The Lance Krall...
movement that helped to topple the state’s monopoly on broadcasting. Since then, as an entrepreneur in media and Internet, he has created a TV station, several radio stations, as well as numerous cable and satellite services. His interactive experience began in the mid-1980s with the Minitel
Minitel
The Minitel is a Videotex online service accessible through the telephone lines, and is considered one of the world's most successful pre-World Wide Web online services. It was launched in France in 1982 by the PTT...
and phone services. His first Internet company was created in 1994 as a joint venture with France Telecom.
Bellanger is the author of two books: “The Future of Radio” (1992) and “Convergence is Code” (2003). In 2006, the French Ministry of Culture and Communication named him to the Counsel for Strategic Analysis of Cultural and Communications Industries.
In 2004, Bellanger helped to spearhead the French government’s introduction of the Dispositif Alerte-Enlèvement, modeled on the North American “AMBER Alert
AMBER Alert
An AMBER Alert or a Child Abduction Emergency is a child abduction alert bulletin in several countries throughout the world, issued upon the suspected abduction of a child, since 1996...
” systems.
On 5 February 2010, Bellanger's sentence for the sexual offence of conviction of a minor, for which he was originally jailed for 4 years (3 suspended), was reduced to 3 years suspended and a 50,000 euro fine. The French judges upheld the findings of the trial and Bellanger remains a convicted sexual offender.