France-CNews: The voice of racism and xenophobia could fall silent in 2025

By:Souleymane Loum 

Five days after the Council of State’s injunction to stop CNews’ contentious programming, Arcom (Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication) has reacted to the decision of the country’s highest administrative court. Roch-Olivier Maistre, the president of Arcom, highlighted in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche on Sunday, February 18, that Arcom does not act as “the thought police or a court of opinion,” therefore there will be no “cataloguing of journalists and guests.” Despite being regarded as the most right-leaning channel in the French audiovisual landscape, often criticized for xenophobia and Islamophobia, CNews confronts ongoing challenges.

Maistre reiterated that the Council of State mandates Arcom to guarantee the pluralism of information by considering all participants on CNews and other networks, including columnists, hosts, and guests. He explained, “We are not requested to count each of the speakers. There will be no cataloguing of reporters and guests. Arcom is neither the thought police nor a court of opinion,” stressing that the decision impacts all audiovisual media, both public and private.

Nevertheless, this does not mean Arcom will ignore the Council of State’s directives. Maistre stated, “Our services have started a reflective process, and we will be required to specify the rules for its enactment while respecting the channels’ editorial freedom.” He did not specify a timeline for passing the Council of State’s decision but remarked it would influence the deliberations at the end of the month, which will establish the rules for the upcoming European elections on June 9 in France.

This means CNews must exert caution in its programming choices, especially concerning the coverage of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and its extremist viewpoints. Additionally, CNews will face the challenge of renewing its frequencies, a process that will affect 15 TNT channels in 2025, with the call for applications opening on February 28.

Characterizing this as an “unprecedented moment in the history of French television,” Maistre highlighted criteria set by Arcom, including “pluralism of the offer” and “audience interest.” He voiced a desire for a diverse range of channels, highlighting the importance of proposals that support audiovisual and cinematographic production or societal commitments.

Maistre also noted that the regulator could consider the shortcomings of incumbent channels pursuing renewal, indirectly referencing CNews and C8, which have faced sanctions. This serves as a caution to Vincent Bolloré, the owner of the group, and Pascal Praud, the new head of his news channel.