Arcom decision concerning the proposed reorganising of the local radio stations of the Virgin Radio and RFM networks.

Published on 12 October 2022 | Assemblée plénière 21 September 2022

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Europe 2 Régions (formerly Virgin Radio Régions) and RFM Régions have applied to the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication (Arcom) for permission to shut down journalists' booths, while continuing to operate the corresponding frequencies in category C: the Lagardère News group is asking for permission to shut down 27 journalists' booths (23 in the Virgin Radio network , out of a total of 61, and 4 in the RFM network, out of a total of 22).

On April 20, 2022, Arcom published an impact study of these territorial reorganising demands. It also interviewed representatives of the Lagardère Group, organizations representing the employees of the companies concerned, and interested third parties. Following this investigation, the Authority examined all these demands at its meeting on September 21, 2022.

Arcom issued the following decisions.

Firstly, the Authority noted that the requests for modifications to the Virgin Radio Bretagne, Virgin Radio Ouest and Virgin Radio Pays de la Loire services (with the exception of the Le Mans booth for the latter station), i.e. 7 requests for booth shutdowns, had become moot, given the final expiry of the authorizations.

Secondly, the Authority took note of the withdrawal of the Lagardère group's demands concerning the RFM Provence, Virgin Radio Provence and Virgin Radio Pays de la Loire services (for the Le Mans booth), i.e. 3 requests for booth shutdowns.

Thirdly, it examined the remaining 17 requests, on the basis of articles 28, 29 and the first paragraph of article 42-3 of the law of September 30, 1986. Following this case-by-case examination, based on the characteristics of the areas in question,

the Authority has decided :

  1. to reject the requests relating to the Virgin Radio Normandie, Virgin Radio Alsace Franche-Comté, Virgin Radio Lorraine, Virgin Radio Midi-Pyrénées, Virgin Radio Bourgogne, Virgin Radio Normandie-Centre, Virgin Radio Centre and RFM Toulouse services (i.e. 16 requests for booth shutdowns);
  2. to accept the request concerning the Virgin Radio Sud-Aquitaine service (shutdown of the Dax booth and attachment to the Bayonne booth).