CNews, under Bolloré ownership, grew to lead France’s TV news audience in 2025, a factor likely contributing to the regulator’s heightened attention.

Arcom stated the remarks propagated numerous infamously stereotyped views about immigrants and could encourage discrimination based on nationality or origin, noting that a partial contradiction within broadcasts did not mitigate the impact.

Arcom, France’s audiovisual regulator, has issued a formal notice to CNews for two on-air sequences it says could incite discrimination, signaling potential financial penalties if the broadcaster does not comply.

The move comes amid broader scrutiny of how immigration and Islam are portrayed in French media, with Arcom stressing that stigmatizing language harms audiences and can fuel discrimination.

The formal notice demonstrates Arcom’s leverage over broadcasters, as it serves as a precursor to possible sanctions if non-compliance continues.

The two offending segments cited were: on January 29, La Grande Interview, where Marseille mayor Marie-Hélène Thoraval described knife attacks as culturally-specific and claimed perpetrators were not 'François de souche' with origins linked to Islam; and on March 20, Morandini Live, where journalist Jordan Florentin described immigrants as a mass that cannot assimilate and suggested a 'great replacement', with Morandini shown as aligned with the speakers.

In the March 20 Morandini Live broadcast, Florentin depicted immigrants as a group unable to adapt to French values, with Morandini taking the side of the speakers; Arcom found the inconsistency insufficient to negate the harmful impact.

Arcom condemned the March 20 segment as spreading highly insulting stereotypes against immigrants.

The regulator published the decision on December 30 in the Journal Officiel, with references to related Legifrance texts and prior Arcom actions.

The notice was officially published on December 17 in the Journal officiel, covering both the January 29 and March 20 incidents.

The regulator argued that the remarks were defamatory to immigrants and could spur discriminatory behavior, adding that the broadcaster’s response at the time was insufficient.

CNews has not publicly commented on Arcom’s decision as of now and remains part of Vincent Bolloré’s media group, which has been rising in 2025 as France’s leading information channel by audience.