The shock decision by Arcom not to renew the DTT frequency of the most important channel C8, scheduled to come into effect on February 28, has been causing an earthquake in the French audiovisual landscape for several months. C8, the flagship channel of the Canal+ group, and undeniably one of the most watched on DTT, is preparing to disappear, depriving millions of viewers of their favorite channel. This eviction has sparked strong reactions, starting with that of Alexia Laroche-Joubert, president of Banijay France, who denounces a flagrant injustice and arbitrary censorship.
A “double punishment” inflicted on C8
Invited on January 12 to the program "C Médiatique" on France 5, Alexia Laroche-Joubert did not mince her words in the face of the decision of the audiovisual regulatory authority. Describing this decision as a "denial of democracy", she criticized an approach that she considers punitive and disproportionate. According to her, Arcom is relying on past sanctions to justify this withdrawal, even though the channel has already settled its debts by paying a colossal fine of 7,5 million euros.
"The principle of justice is that when a fault is punished, the sentence is served. Today, Arcom is applying an unjustifiable double penalty that penalizes a channel that has managed to win over a large audience. This is a real blow to media diversity and freedom of expression."
Beyond its legal aspect, this decision has major social implications. Alexia Laroche-Joubert expressed her concern about the future of the 200 employees directly threatened by the elimination of C8: "There is a social plan that will lead to 200 layoffs, and these people will not easily find work in a television in crisis. It is a social catastrophe that adds to an already questionable decision."
She also stressed that this measure goes well beyond the C8 channel alone: "We are talking about a channel that, in 2024, was the number one on DTT. Removing such a platform means depriving millions of French people of content that they appreciate and following a logic of censorship that does not say its name."
C8, symbol of a threatened popular television
Among the arguments put forward by Arcom is the management of controversies related to "Touche pas à mon poste" (TPMP), the first talk show in France hosted by Cyril Hanouna. However, Alexia Laroche-Joubert points out that since she took office at the head of Banijay France, no notable "slip-ups" have been recorded. For her, the channel has managed to get back on track and on the contrary deserved to be supported in its efforts to improve. "We are not worried about the future of Cyril Hanouna, but it is clear that this decision affects more than just one host or one show. It affects production companies, talents, and an audience that has made C8 a major player in French television," she said.
The removal of C8 finally raises questions about the independence and real motivations of Arcom. Why is a leading channel, having settled its debts and shown a willingness to improve, thus being excluded from DTT? Is this decision a genuine regulatory measure or a disguised attempt to censor a popular voice that is disturbing?
Alexia Laroche-Joubert calls for collective awareness of this situation: "Arcom should be the guarantor of audiovisual diversity, not an instrument of arbitrary sanction. This suppression is a dangerous precedent that weakens the entire audiovisual sector."
As the February 28 deadline approaches, the future of C8 and its programs, including "Touche pas à mon poste", remains uncertain. Viewers, loyal to channel 8, risk seeing the disappearance of a channel that knew how to liven up their evenings and offer a different kind of television. The elimination of C8 is not a simple administrative decision: it represents a worrying turning point for freedom of expression and access to popular and plural television. It is essential that the public, professionals and decision-makers become aware of the issues and oppose this disguised censorship that threatens the democratic balance of our media.
