French media regulator orders CNews to ensure pluralism

Arcom head Martin Ajdari emphasized that the regulator's function is not to police opinions but to guarantee that media outlets present a variety of views on each subject. This directive places CNews, owned by billionaire Vincent Bollore and often compared to Fox News for its opinion-driven and polarizing content, one step away from potential disciplinary measures.

The order comes at a politically sensitive time, less than a year before a presidential election where far-right candidates are leading in polls. French broadcasting law mandates "honest, independent and pluralistic" coverage, requiring broadcasters to ensure a diversity of viewpoints, particularly in news and current affairs programming. French broadcasters are uniquely required to track politicians' speaking time to reflect election results and opinion polls.

Last week, Arcom also issued a formal notice to public broadcaster Radio France for underrepresenting the far-right National Rally party. The regulator has the authority to impose fines and, in extreme cases, revoke a channel's broadcasting license.