Three months from the scheduled end of its frequency, C8the channel on which the controversial host Cyril Hanouna works, took to the front on Friday November 15, 2024 in court to challenge this decision. But it may still have to wait to be fixed.
Final decision expected in early December
It was a first round before the Council of State. The public rapporteur, who says the law, considered that it was too early for such an appeal of C8the selection of channels by the audiovisual regulator is not final. The Council of State, the highest administrative court, must render its decision on this subject in the coming week.
If he follows the conclusions of the public rapporteur, he will reject the request for C8considering that it is not admissible since it arrives before the final decision of Arcom expected at the beginning of December.
Property of the Canal+ group, in the hands of ultra-conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, C8 can attack this selection later. Its publication must take place after the conclusion of agreements with the new frequency holders, pre-chosen in July.
Petition
Mobilized like the entire Canal+ empire, C8 launched a petition at the end of last week to ask for its maintenance. It gathered nearly 700,000 signatures.
For the reallocation of 15 TV frequencies in 2025, a preselection by Arcom was unveiled at the end of July. The independent regulatory authority had ruled out the renewal of NRJ12 et C8whose lease expires at the end of February.
“If we are not chosen, we are excluded” and already “the consequences are more than significant for C8 »argued the channel's lawyer, Me Emmanuel Piwnica, at the hearing Friday. Preselection is not “a gray area” and she “grieves us”told the press Franck Appieto, general director of C8.
Two newcomers were preferred to C8 et NRJ12 : OFTV (West-France group) and Real TV (CMI France, from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky).
NRJ12 was the first to file an appeal in September. According to NRJ Group, the “economic viability” and therefore « l’existence » of the chain is threatened and, in turn, “the economic model of Sweetheart 25 »another antenna of the same group.
C8 had followed before the courts, citing a situation “particular with regard to the economic, social and competitive issues generated” for an existing channel “for almost twenty years”according to its owner Canal+. Some 400 jobs would be affected.
Hanouna will remain in the group
C8 accumulated a fine of 7.6 million euros due to the slip-ups of its star host, Cyril Hanouna. The Arcom has “especially heard sanctioning the channel” for these “failures” related to the show Don't touch my post but these have already been “heavily sanctioned”points out Canal+ again.
Cyril Hanouna prepares for any eventuality. He assured at the end of October that he would remain in any case in the Canal+ group, within which he is working to create a multimedia offer available on the Internet and on paper, in addition to television.
