French regulator orders Eutelsat to stop broadcasting two Russian channels

The French telecommunications regulator Arcom has ordered Eutelsat to stop broadcasting two Russian TV channels, STS and Channel 5, which have been sanctioned by the EU. This landmark decision was made three years after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This was reported by Euractiv, writes UNN.

Details

It is noted that the French telecommunications regulator Arcom ordered Eutelsat to stop broadcasting STS and Channel 5 due to EU sanctions

Eutelsat, based in Paris, has three days to comply with the order, and is likely to do so. However, despite this victory for activists, pressure on the French regulator and the company to stop broadcasting even more Russian TV channels and radio stations sanctioned by the EU is unlikely to subside anytime soon.

Arcom emphasizes that this is the first such decision in France, as these channels were not subject to direct EU sanctions, but were affected indirectly through their parent company. Before the introduction of the new digital law SREN in May 2024, the French regulator did not have the power to order Eutelsat to ban the broadcast of channels. The company continues to broadcast several sanctioned Russian channels.

The telecommunications regulator was able to establish that STS and Channel 5 are owned by the Russian company JSN National Media Group, which is subject to EU sanctions.

However, this first achievement may inspire activists to launch a new campaign calling on Arcom to take action, especially after the National Assembly recently passed a resolution in support of Ukraine, calling on Arcom to immediately use its powers over Eutelsat

As reported, Eutelsat continues to broadcast the Solovyev Live channel, a channel of a Russian citizen sanctioned by the EU, Vladimir Solovyov, since May 2024. According to an activist citing data from LyngSat.com, this channel remains part of the package that Eutelsat transmits for the Russian company Trikolor.

Solovyov is the most repulsive Russian propagandist, and he is even more unrestrained on Solovyev Live than on Rossiya 1

More than 180 Eutelsat frequencies still broadcast EU-sanctioned channels, including Rossiya 1, according to letters seen by Euractiv from the Diderot Committee, sent to European Commissioners for Foreign Affairs, Industry and Defense Kaji Kallas, Stephane Sejourne and Andrius Kubilius on March 17 and 18.

These channels include the Russian Armed Forces TV channel Zvezda and the Orthodox Church radio channel Spas Telekanal, the letters claim, although Arcom's requests have not yet confirmed this data. The company has stopped broadcasting these two channels, an Eutelsat representative told Euractiv.

Several Arcom investigations into Russian channels sanctioned by the EU are still ongoing, and new banning orders can be expected.

Reminder

At the official request of the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission, Google removed more than 200 blocked sites with Russian channels from the search results. This is part of the fight against disinformation and propaganda of Russian media.

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