“We are dealing with a model which lives from abuse (…), from circumvention of the rules, and which justifies it “by its audiences”, estimated the LFI rapporteur of the commission of inquiry on television frequencies on Friday .
The comments of MP Aurélien Saintoul were aimed at the Canal+ group, its CNews and C8 channels, in the fold of billionaire Vincent Bolloré.
This commission of inquiry into the allocation of TNT frequencies heard the managers of Canal + and its channels on Thursday, in sometimes tense discussions.
The stars of CNews, Pascal Praud, Laurence Ferrari and Sonia Mabrouk, were present, and that of C8, Cyril Hanouna, will be heard on March 14.
According to Aurélien Saintoul, the group applied a “strategy” on several points.
First, the “minimization” of the multiple sanctions imposed on the channels by the audiovisual regulator, Arcom, after various failings and controversies.
Then, the “trivialization” regarding Cyril Hanouna, source of several sanctions against C8.
The CEO of Canal +, Maxime Saada, declared that the host's “excesses” were “an assumed risk”.
The rapporteur questions the influence of Bolloré
The rebellious parliamentarian finally accused CNews of “disinformation” regarding a recent decision of the Council of State.
Following an appeal from Reporters Without Borders, the body asked Arcom in mid-February to strengthen its control of CNews and all television and radio stations.
This decision was widely presented on CNews as an attack on his freedom of expression.
“This disinformation strategy poses a serious problem from the point of view of the channel’s obligations,” commented Aurélien Saintoul.
He also questioned the assertion of the director of CNews, Serge Nedjar, according to which Vincent Bolloré does not intervene in the content of the channels.
Thursday's hearings sparked criticism from the right and the far right, with Éric Ciotti (LR) and Marine Le Pen (RN) in particular accusing the commission of bias.
“I hope I'm biased.
I am not a judge, this is not a judicial investigation that we are carrying out, it is a parliamentary commission of inquiry,” retorted the MP.
According to him, the work is based on the plurality of “points of view”.
The commission is chaired by Renaissance MP Quentin Bataillon.
Its highlight will be the hearing of Vincent Bolloré on March 13.