The Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, spoke in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche on the controversial closure of C8 and NRJ 12, as well as on the revelations concerning Arcom. While recalling the legal framework of this decision, it does not hesitate to express its vigilance in the face of accusations of political pressure that have weighed on the regulatory body.
Asked about the elimination of C8 and NRJ 12, Rachida Dati immediately emphasizes that Arcom is an independent authority, whose missions were defined by Parliament. She points out that the decision not to renew the frequencies of the two channels followed a long and supervised process, before being validated by the Council of State. However, she suggests that a political debate could open up on the subject: "If a majority of political leaders consider these rules unfair, it is up to them to change them," she specifies.
The minister also spoke about the revelations of the JDD, according to which certain members of the Arcom had claimed internally that they had "done their job" by eliminating Cyril Hanouna from the audiovisual sector. Dati is firm: if these remarks are proven, they would constitute a "serious ethical breach". She announced her intention to discuss it with the president of the Arcom to obtain clarifications and shed full light on this affair.
While some elected officials are calling for the pure and simple abolition of Arcom, the minister defends the principle of an independent audiovisual regulatory authority, recalling that its creation in 1982 was specifically aimed at avoiding any direct political interference in the media sector. She nevertheless acknowledges that the audiovisual landscape has changed profoundly and that reflections can be conducted on its role and operating methods.
The closure of C8 and NRJ 12 will result in the loss of several hundred jobs, an aspect that Dati is concerned about: "I think of the secretary, the makeup artist, all the technicians who are losing their jobs," she emphasizes. She promises to follow the social aspect of this affair closely.
Finally, the minister admits that this decision deprives a large audience of a media that they appreciated: "My thoughts are with all those viewers who consider that they are being unfairly deprived of a channel." A way of recognizing the symbolic and popular impact of this closure, while reaffirming the need to respect the rules of the audiovisual sector.
