Deliberation of June 26, 2012 relating to the conditions of contribution of television services showing sports programs to the fight against doping and the protection of persons practicing physical and sports activities.

The French Superior Audiovisual Council,

Having regard to Act no. 86-1067 of September 30, 1986, as amended, on freedom of communication, and in particular Article 20-3 thereof;

After deliberation,

Decides:

Law no. 2012-158 of February 1, 2012 aimed at strengthening sports ethics and athletes' rights amended article 20-3 of law no. 86-1067 of September 30, 1986 relating to freedom of communication, which now states that: "Television services that show sports programs contribute to the fight agains doping and the protection of people practicing physical and sports activities by showing programs relating to these subjects. The French Superior Audiovisual Council sets the conditions for the application of this article".

The Conseil intends to promote a scheme to fight against doping and protect people practising physical and sporting activities, which is effective in terms of the message shown, pragmatic in terms of the diversity of the editorial characteristics of the television services concerned, adapted to the expectations of the widest possible audience, and which takes account of the state of information currently offered on the subject on television.
To achieve the objectives set by the legislator and the present deliberation, the Council also invites organizations involved in preventing and combating doping and defending sporting ethics, as well as television service editors, to set up cooperative ventures capable of promoting the policy desired by the legislator.
The purpose of the present deliberation is to set the terms and conditions for the diffusion of programs concerning the fight agains doping and the protection of persons practicing physical activities and sports.

Art. 1 Scope of application

This resolution applies to all national television services, whether free-to-air or pay, which show sports programs in any format.

Art. 2 Terms of contribution

2.1 Annual contribution

Each publisher makes an annual contribution to the fight against doping and the protection of people practising physical and sporting activities, by showing programmes on these subjects.
These programs must be shown between 6 a.m. and midnight.
The publisher's annual contribution may not be limited solely to doping-related news items.

2.2 Topics to be covered over a four-year period

Over the entire 2012-2016 period, the publisher will, as far as possible, diversify the formats and programme types used to promote the fight against doping and the protection of those involved in physical activity and sport. To do so, it will draw on its editorial characteristics, including :
- general or sports news ;
- on set or image magazines;
- documentaries;
- short programs;
- television or film drama;
- animation.

It takes care to vary the times of diffusion of the programs evoking the problem of doping in the sport and the protection of the people practising physical and sporting activities.
The programs, subjects or documentaries shown must enable the public to grasp the medical, social and educational dimensions of doping in sport and the protection of people practicing physical and sporting activities (methods of doping; health, physiological, psychological and social consequences for those who use it; action by the authorities; promotion of practices that enable people to engage in physical and sporting activities in compliance with sporting ethics).
The publisher takes care to address the issues surrounding doping and the protection of those involved in physical activity and sport:
- in professional, amateur and school sports;
- by drawing on medical, legal, sociological and technical knowledge;
- by summoning the testimonies of top-level athletes.
The publisher raises awareness raising among the general public to promote the fight against doping and protect the health of those involved in physical activity and sport. It adapts its contribution to the different categories of public federated by its programs, in terms of age (adults, teenagers, children) and practice of physical and sporting activities (professional, amateur, associative, school).
For programs aimed at youngsters, the publisher's contribution should focus more on promoting sporting activity and transmitting educational values, emphasizing respect for the rules (of the game, of the arbitrator, etc.) and highlighting the role of physical training and educators.
Publishers endeavor to relay their contribution via their corporate and consumer communication tools, in particular websites and publications aimed at subscribers to pay TV channels.
The Council invites audiovisual groups editing services subject to the present deliberation to involve the greatest possible number of services edited by their group in their contribution to promoting the fight against doping and protecting the health of people practicing physical and sporting activities, in particular by ensuring the circulation of programs within the group, by raising the subject of doping in their programs or by designing new programs.

Art. 3 Implementation of the contribution and monitoring of execution

Each year, in its report on the fulfillment of its obligations and commitments for the previous year, the publisher provides the Council with an assessment of its contribution to the fight against doping and the protection of people practicing physical and sports activities.
By way of derogation, the first report will be submitted in May 2013, for the first ten months of application of this resolution.

Art. 4 Final provisions

The present resolution will be effective from July 1, 2012. It may be amended on July 1 of each year in the light of experience gained and the quality of program exposure.
The Board will review its application in 2017.

The present resolution will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.

Paris, June 26, 2012.
For the French Superior Audiovisual Council :
Le président,
M. BOYON

Browse the version published in the Official Journal on June 30, 2012.