LThe Council of State on Wednesday rejected the interim relief appeals filed by the channels C8, NRJ12 and Le Média, which were not chosen this summer by Arcom, the audiovisual regulator, during the procedure for reassigning DTT frequencies, ruling that the emergency condition was “not met”.
In three separate decisions, the highest French administrative court specified that these appeals will be examined in depth by the end of November.
In July, Arcom revealed its pre-selection for the reallocation of 15 TV frequencies in 2025, ruling out the renewal of NRJ12 and C8, whose lease expires at the end of February, and not retaining the radical left-wing web TV channel Le Média.
Two newcomers were preferred: OFTV (Ouest France group) and RéelsTV (CMI France, owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky).
However, the channels still in the running will only obtain their authorization to broadcast after signing new agreements with the regulator by the end of the year.
NRJ12 and its owner NRJ Group preferred to take the lead, announcing that they had referred the matter to the Council of State to contest Arcom’s decision.
C8, which has accumulated 7.6 million euros in fines due to the excesses of its star presenter Cyril Hanouna, followed suit, citing a situation “particular in view of the economic, social and competitive issues generated (…) for a television channel that has existed (…) for nearly 20 years”, according to a press release from its owner Canal+, in the fold of conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré via the Vivendi group.
The renewal of frequencies has also stirred up the political sphere. LFI MP Aurélien Saintoul, rapporteur of a commission of inquiry on DTT, had notably deplored in July that Arcom had accepted the candidacy of CNews, accused by many left-wing politicians of promoting far-right ideas, which it denies.
Digital terrestrial television (DTT), launched in 2005 in mainland France, still largely structures the French audiovisual landscape and remains the only mode of television reception for almost 20% of homes equipped with a set.
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