[Wojtek]

First of all radios, television is the completely different world, land of big money. Good for masses is not something good itself but something that can be sold in a best way. Therefore:
1. prog tracks are too long (there is not mainstream radio stations that plays >5 min tracks
2. prog tracks have too complex moods for the radio that needs mostly cheerful things

In general I think that in recent years the situation has changed in a positive way. A few years ago without Internet we had to listen and like what we had been served. Now we can search and choose. There is big boom for alternative music (I think prog as well). It doesn't mean that we're going to have prog back on top charts..no.. such times will be never again. But the fact is that more and more people are fed up with mainstream pulp. Internet, online shops allow you to not give a shit about this pulp and listen to the good music.

As for France. Well... some countries are better in football, in some there is tradition of for example great wines. So actually hardly anything does encounter similar success in different countries.