Cyril Hanouna’s Record Fine: Council of State to Uphold €3.5M Penalty
The public rapporteur of the Council of State has recommended maintaining the record fine of 3.5 million euros imposed on C8 last year by Arcom, following the repeated insults of its star host, Cyril Hanouna, towards LFI deputy Louis Boyard. These conclusions were delivered in a hearing held on Friday, May 24.
The controversial incident occurred in November 2022 during a live broadcast of Hanouna's show 'Touche pas à mon poste' (TPMP), where he hurled a series of derogatory remarks such as 'asshole,' 'shame,’ and 'you're a piece of shit' at Boyard. The public rapporteur specifically stated that there is 'little doubt' these remarks constitute multiple insults, despite the defenses presented by the Canal+ group’s channel.
Boyard, a former columnist for TPMP and now a deputy, was invited to speak on an episode focused on the reception of the Ocean Viking migrant boat. His remarks criticizing the 'five richest people in France,' including billionaire Vincent Bolloré, a key shareholder of the Canal+ group, ignited Hanouna’s ire. The altercation ended with Boyard leaving the set amidst boos from the audience.
Arcom’s Fines and C8’s History of Controversies
Following this incident, Arcom levied a record fine of 3.5 million euros on C8 in February 2023, citing serious breaches of its obligations related to honesty and independence of information. At the same time, Arcom also issued a notice to ensure compliance with these obligations in the future.
On the same note, the public rapporteur recommended rejecting the two appeals filed by C8 contesting these penalties. According to the rapporteur, not only were the insults by Hanouna proven, but it was also apparent that the host obstructed his guest from criticizing the primary shareholder of the Canal+ group.
The fines imposed by Arcom on C8 are not new, as Hanouna’s shows have amassed a staggering total of 7.5 million euros in fines due to repeated concerns raised by the audiovisual regulator on similar grounds.
Broadcasting Licensing and Future Considerations
Currently, C8, alongside CNews, another channel under the Canal+ group, is seeking the renewal of its digital terrestrial television frequency (DTT) from Arcom. This process is of significant interest and concern, given their recent history of penalties and controversies. The outcome of this application could have substantial implications for the channels’ future broadcasting capabilities.
- The contentious interaction between Cyril Hanouna and Louis Boyard underscores the ongoing issues related to media conduct and the repercussions of on-air behavior. Media analysts have pointed out that such incidents could influence regulatory stances and public perception, especially concerning media ethics and broadcaster responsibilities.
- The significant fines and public scrutiny underscore the high stakes involved in maintaining compliance with broadcasting standards. As C8 and CNews await the decision on their DTT license renewal, the media landscape watches closely to see how regulatory authorities balance enforcement with media freedom.
