Lack of control of the antenna, breach of the obligation of honesty and rigor of information… For several months, CNews and C8 have been in the sights of the Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication (Arcom) … And after the sending of numerous formal notices, the ex-CSA could well go down the path of the sanction concerning the slippages observed on the two channels belonging to the same group… Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malik on the airwaves of France Inter this Thursday, February 9, 2023.
At the microphone of Léa Salamé and Nicolas Dumorand, the member of the government of Élisabeth Borne hinted that CNews and C8 could lose their broadcasting rights in 2025.
About twenty ARCOM interventions
“There are obligations to respect. There have already been around twenty interventions by Arcom, since 2019, for C8 and CNews. After how many interventions will Arcom be able to say to what degree the obligations are not respected? This is the role of Arcom”said Minister Rima Abdul Malik at the microphone of France Inter.
Words that sound like a warning for the two channels and above all an invitation to be on the lookout by 2025.
C8 and Cnews deprived of frequencies? “There have been around twenty Arcom interventions since 2019”, notes the Minister of Culture. “I am just reminding you of the obligations” to be respected for “the channels which have access to free frequencies”, says @RimaAbdulMalak.#le7930interpic.twitter.com/aX3sIgFMGk
– France Inter (@franceinter) February 9, 2023
Controversial sequences in “Do not touch my post! » and « Time for the pros »
“I am in my role when I recall the existing framework. There are channels which have free frequencies in exchange for certain obligations which they must respect. These obligations, it is enough to read them. They are in the law. They are very clear. Among them, there is respect for pluralism, the fact of dealing with judicial cases with moderation, the fact of creating a contradictory debate with all the points of view that may be controversial”, subsequently indicated the Minister of Culture when Léa Salamé asked her if the channels concerned could lose their frequencies.
As a reminder, the program “Touche pas à mon poste!” (C8) has been collecting Arcom sanctions for many years. The latest? The ex-CSA, considers that C8 has not violated the dignity of the human person for having celebrated its hearings the day after a record achieved during a program on the death of little Lola in October 2023.
On the side of CNews, the program “L’heure des pros” is not to be outdone. In February 2022, Arcom was notably seized after a slippage by columnist Ivan Rioufol who had made a dubious comparison between the fate of the unvaccinated and the Jews locked up in the Warsaw ghetto during the Second World War.
Christine Kelly speaks
A “stroke of pressure” from the government which is already reacting… The proof, the host and former member of the Superior Council of Audiovisual (CSA) Christine Kelly spoke on Twitter… But against all odds, the latter did not seem to take kindly to the warnings of the Minister of Culture on the airwaves of France Inter : “When I was at the CSA (Arcom) the Minister of Culture was in no way to put pressure on us, independent members. The law defines this independence… Why today put pressure to remove Cnews and C8?”, asked the host of “Face à l’info” (CNews). It remains to be seen whether other animators will speak following the intervention of Rima Abdul Malik.
When I was at the CSA (Arcom) the Ministry of Culture should in no way put pressure on us, independent members. The law defines this independence…Why today put pressure to suppress Cnews and C8? #Facealinfopic.twitter.com/GmPeOSXeiQ
— Christine KELLY (@christine_kelly) February 9, 2023
See also: Francis Lalanne guest in TPMP: Columnists are forced to leave the set at the request of the singer!
Lisa Ziane