It was expected, but it is now unfortunately official. The Council of State announced this Wednesday afternoon that the channels C8 et NRJ 12 were going well Vanish. of DTT. The appeal brought by C8 and NRj 12 to invalidate Arcom's decision not to renew their DTT frequency was therefore unsuccessful. C8 and NRJ 12 will therefore cease broadcasting definitively on the evening of Friday February 28.
A totally unfair, arbitrary and scandalous decision, which raises a serious question: is France still a country of freedom of expression? Nothing could be less certain. By removing C8, the first TNT channel carried by Cyril Hanouna, the enemy to be defeated, Arcom, supposed to defend the interests of viewers, and whose severity towards C8 contrasts with a very strange laxity in favour of other channels, shows itself to be nothing more than a scandalous organ of censorship in the hands of do-gooders, who, hidden under the false nose of defending the public interest, are in reality nothing more than dangerous enemies of democracy and freedom of speech, in the sole service of a totalitarian ideology...
With this decision to eliminate the most-watched channel on TNT – an absolutely unique fact in the history of television – Pandora's box has been opened. Those who are now rejoicing at the closure of C8 are not safe from suffering the same fate one day.
As revolting as it may be, this decision by the Council of State is not a surprise. During the hearing, the protractor public, whose recommendations are almost always followed, had affirmed that Arcom had not made a mistake and had recommended the Rejection of C8 and NRJ12 appeals, stating: "We conclude that both appeals should be dismissed."
C8's lawyers had notably recalled that the channel was the first on DTT, mentioning the 400 employees of the channel who would find themselves without jobs following the decision of Arcom. He had then regretted that Arcom had not listened to the measures proposed by C8 to ensure control of the channel, in particular with the end of live broadcasts for TPMP!.
NRJ12's lawyer, for his part, stated: "Excluding NRJ12 is a questionable choice. NRJ12 has been a very good student, Arcom's annual report points out scrupulous respect for commitments. NRJ12 is today a profitable channel, not the case for all DTT channels." He added that the OF TV project was not viable, adding, regarding the new T18 channel : "its programming has no generality, it is a channel for the rich"
Despite these arguments, among others, C8 and NRJ 12 will therefore disappear from TNT. A real defeat for democracy, in a country that claims to defend freedom of expression. Pandora's box is open...
