CNews warned by French regulator over lack of plurality
June 16, 2026 13.25 Europe/London By Julian Clover


France’s audiovisual regulator has formally warned news channel CNews that it must comply with requirements to ensure a plurality of viewpoints across its programming.

The decision by Arcom follows an investigation launched after a complaint from Reporters Without Borders concerning the channel’s output during March 2025.

In a detailed review of 168 hours of programming, covering more than half of the channel’s audience during the month, the regulator examined coverage of major topics including security, the war in Ukraine, relations between France and Algeria, the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party and wider political affairs.

Arcom concluded that there was a “manifest and persistent imbalance” in the expression of different schools of thought and opinion. The regulator found that debates and news coverage frequently reflected a single interpretation of current affairs, centred on concerns over immigration, Islam, security, criticism of the executive and European Union, distrust of the judiciary and opposition to LFI.

According to the regulator, alternative or more nuanced viewpoints were often given less airtime or were dismissed without meaningful challenge, while presenters played a significant role in shaping discussions.

The ruling follows a change in Arcom’s approach introduced in July 2024 after a decision by France’s Council of State. Previously, plurality requirements focused largely on airtime allocated to political figures. Under the revised framework, the regulator also assesses whether a broadcaster’s overall output reflects a balanced range of viewpoints from all contributors.

Arcom stressed that broadcasters remain free to focus on particular issues and to schedule opinion-led debate programmes. However, it said these editorial choices cannot result in the structural over-representation of a single political or ideological perspective across an entire service.

CNews is owned by Canal+, part of the media interests of French businessman Vincent Bolloré. The channel has become one of France’s most-watched news services in recent years, while also attracting criticism from political opponents and media watchdogs over the prominence of conservative and right-leaning viewpoints in its programming.

The regulator said any further breaches could lead to formal sanctions proceedings. Ahead of forthcoming national elections, Arcom has also announced a dedicated monitoring programme covering all four national rolling news channels to assess compliance with its expanded plurality requirements.

Comparisons will be drawn with the right-leaning GB News, which has faced a series investigations by the Ofcom. The UK regulator has also tightened rules on politicians acting as presenters.