“First defeat for Bolloré”, “a democratic scandal”… The non-renewal of C8’s TNT frequency provokes mixed reactions

The applications of C8 and the NRJ12 channel were not accepted by the audiovisual policeman, Arcom. A decision which has given rise to numerous comments on both the political and media scenes.

Arcom, the French regulator of audiovisual and digital communications, excluded the channels C8, from the Canal+ group, and NRJ12 from its process of reassigning terrestrial hertzian frequencies on Wednesday, July 24. Here are the first political and media reactions.

“Excellent news,” rejoices the left

LFI MP Louis Boyard, who had a heated argument with Cyril Hanouna on the set of “Touche pas à mon poste” on C8, quickly welcomed Arcom’s decision. “I’ll be here when school starts again, but you start looking for a summer job! If you want, I can hook you up to sell scrunchies on the beach.”wrote the host last June. To which Louis Boyard responded on Wednesday: “Well… sweetheart on the beach then?”

“The refusal to renew the frequency for the propaganda channel C8 is excellent news for our democracy, the independence and plurality of the media”believes the Ecologists MP, Cyrielle Chatelain sur X.

“First defeat for Vincent Bolloré and his empire”reacts on the social network X the deputy of Val-de-Marne, Sophie Taillé-Polian, at the origin of a petition on the platform “Le Mouvement”, to demand the end of the renewal of the approval of CNews and C8 which collects 255,999 signatures to date. “The fight against media concentration must continue, it is a democratic necessity”she adds.

“The battle continues”declares on X the deputy La France insoumise of Hauts-de-Seine, Aurélien Saintoul. The rapporteur of the commission of inquiry on the broadcasting authorizations of the TNT channels expresses his “satisfaction”, but regrets that the CNews channel was selected during the call for applications. “It could not be otherwise given the number of sanctions to which he is subject.” C8, adds Aurélien Saintoul.

Raquel Garrido, former LFI MP and who was a columnist on Cyril Hanouna’s shows for several years, judge ““It is logical that Arcom should retain a new proposal.” “C8 had repeatedly violated the rules of use of its frequency”she wrote on X.

“A democratic scandal”, denounces the extreme right

“For those in power, pluralism is unbearable”denounces Marine Le Pen. “The left, which does not tolerate any questioning of its cultural hegemony, any expression different from its own, got the scalp of C8 by putting pressure on an ‘independent’ authority.”continues Jordan Bardella on X. Laure Lavalette, the National Rally MP for Toulon and Var, denounces “the path more than perilous” hired by Arcom, “unable to enforce pluralism elsewhere and under pressure from the far left”.

For the boss of Reconquête! Eric Zemmour, former polemicist on CNews, the Arcom “break the momentum of those who create, who liberate and who please”. MEP Marion Maréchal, recently expelled from Eric Zemmour’s party, believes that the audiovisual policeman “has taken a decision that seriously undermines plurality. Replacing it with yet another media outlet left-wing, Ouest France, signs the militancy behind this choice.”

The group À Droite!, chaired by Éric Ciotti in the National Assembly, denounces “a democratic scandal” and will propose “an amendment to the law on freedom of communication to guarantee freedom of expression and the sustainability of popular channels”. “Freedom of expression, stronger than elsewhere there, whatever one thinks, is disturbing; tyranny is no longer hiding! We must defend pluralism and freedom of expression!”exclaims Florian Philippot, president of the Patriots, also on X.

Divided reactions on the media scene and on social networks

Gérald-Brice Viret, CEO of Canal+ France, the group that owns C8, said “in shock at Arcom’s announcement”on X. “How can we understand this unprecedented decision in the history of TNT with regard to a channel which contributed to its popularity?” asks the leader. Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+, also shared his “shock” in an internet email disclosed by the journalist of Parisian Benoît Daragon, on social networks. The NRJ group denounced a “incomprehensible decision” And “is studying possible remedies at this stage of the procedure.”

On social networks, this non-renewal also divides. Beatrice Rosen, actress and former columnist of “Touche pas à mon poste”, tackles “L’ARCOM-political missionary”. “The level of decline of freedom of expression in France is absolutely frightening”she writes on X. Journalist Radouan Kourak, who has also made several appearances on C8’s flagship show, judges on the same social network as “Freedom of expression is threatened in our country by this decision.”

Influencer Yass, who has more than a million subscribers on X, was on the contrary amused by this non-renewal. “C8 is no longer a TNT channel, that just happened lol”he wrote.