Decision of 17 June 2026 issuing a formal notice to SAS Voltage

The French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication,

Having regard to Law No. 86-1067 of 30 September 1986, as amended, on freedom of communication, in particular Articles 28 and 42 thereof;

Having regard to Decision No. 2021-103 of 8 December 2021 on the commitments of radio services for the purposes of Article 28(2a) of Law No. 86-1067 of 30 September 1986 on freedom of communication;

Having regard to all the decisions of the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication authorising SAS Voltage to operate, via terrestrial radio transmission using frequency modulation, a Category B radio service named ‘Voltage’;

Having regard to the agreement signed on 18 January 2017 between the Paris Regional Audiovisual Committee and SAS Voltage, and amended in particular by Addendum No. 6 signed on 30 March 2022 between the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication and SAS Voltage, in particular Articles 3-2 and 4-2-1 thereof, and Annex IV;

Having regard to the letters from the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication dated 27 July and 16 November 2022, as well as that of 22 May 2025, which demand that SAS Voltage comply with its obligation to broadcast songs in the French language;

Having regard to the email from the services of the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication dated 16 March 2026, to which SAS Voltage replied by email on 3 April 2026; Having regard to the results of the diffusion surveys carried out, at the demand of the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication, by the company Yacast, concerning the music programme shown by SAS Voltage during the months of October, November and December 2025;

Whereas:

1. Pursuant to the provisions of Article 4-2-1 of the agreement of 18 January 2017, the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication may issue a formal notice requiring the broadcaster to comply with its contractual obligations; in accordance with Article 3-2 and Annex IV of that agreement, SAS Voltage has undertaken, as a radio station specialising in the promotion of young talent, to ensure that at least 35 per cent of all songs shown are songs inin French or performed in a regional language in use in France, and that songs in French or performed in a regional language in use in France by new talent account for at least 25 per cent of the total number of songs shown.

2. The results of the diffusion survey show that SAS Voltage conducted 28.2%, 29.8% and 28.3% of French-language diffusion each month, representing an average of 28.8% for the months of October, November and December 2025, compared with a requirement of 35 per cent. The requirement regarding the proportion of French-language songs by new talent has been met. A breach has therefore been identified in relation to one of the two criteria set out in the provisions of Article 3-2 and Annex IV of the agreement of 18 January 2017; consequently, this formal notice is hereby served on SAS Voltage.

Having deliberated on the matter,

It is hereby decided:

Article 1. – SAS Voltage is hereby served with a formal notice to comply, in future, with the provisions of Article 3-2 and Annex IV of the agreement of 18 January 2017.

Article 2 – This decision shall be served on SAS Voltage and published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.

Done at Paris, on 17 June 2026.

For the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication:

The Chair,

Mr AJDARI