This is a figure that exceeds all records. More than 879,000, this is the number of signatures obtained under the petition I Support C8launched by the channel on November 8, and which has continued to increase ever since. A petition relayed and signed many times for “ defend freedom of expression », while C8 could lose its antenna from February 28, 2025.
Lots of support for a very popular channel
The score brings a lot of hope for Gérald-Brice Viret, the director of Canal+ who owns the channel, who welcomed the success of the petition “ the most signed in history [du site] MesOpinions “. Since July, C8 has been facing the threat of losing its broadcasting rights, Arcom having launched a process of reallocation of 15 television frequencies this summer. The chain, whose lease is expiring, was excluded from this selection.
However, C8 attracts more than 9.6 million viewers daily thanks to its successful programs, such as Don't Touch My Post, It's only the truth that counts, Facing Hanounaor even The Animals of the 8 and many others. So many emblematic programs contributing to the dynamism of the channel which employs more than 400 people, including employees, collaborators and service providers, who could find themselves without work if C8 were to lose its frequency.
A mobilization against censorship
Faced with this threat, a large mobilization was organized to support C8 and defend its broadcasting rights. On the set of Time for the ProsPascal Praud expressed his hope that this petition and its numerous signatories could “ make Arcom understand how popular this channel is “. The presenter of Face à l'info, Christine Kelly, also announced that she had signed the petition, “ in the name of freedom of expression in France », just like Philippe de Villiers who called for “ send a signal » by supporting the process.
Personalities outside the political and media world also got involved. Greg Guillotin, comedian on YouTube, followed by more than a million subscribers on social networks, and whose show The Worst Intern is broadcast on C8, has also taken a position. He declared “ support C8, its 400 jobs and its emissions » and encouraged his fans to sign the petition, by sharing it on his networks.
Viewer support as a last resort
This petition aims above all to weigh in on the debate while C8 has filed an appeal with the Council of State in the hope that the highest administrative court will intervene to force Arcom to reverse its decision to exclude it from the selection. However, the Council of State declared the appeal inadmissible this Friday, November 22, considering that it was premature to rule on this matter. In its decision, the court emphasized that the pre-selection announced by Arcom this summer had “not no legal effect » at this stage, because the frequency reallocation procedure is still in progress. The Council of State added that C8 had to wait for the official publication of the final list, scheduled for December, before being able to take any protest action. Statements which did not fail to provoke a reaction from the main stakeholders, such as Cyril Hanouna or Gérald-Brice Viret who recalled that the expectation of a “ final decision to act legally [leur] will leave only a paltry amount of time to defend [leurs] interests », adding that the effects on the 400 employees and their families are “ already […] very concrete and harmful ».
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