Recommendation no. 2017-05 of April 26, 2017 from the French Superior Audiovisual Council to radio and television services relating to the June 2017 legislative elections.

The French Superior Audiovisual Council,

Having regard to Act no. 86-1067 of September 30, 1986, as amended, on freedom of communication;

Having regard to decree n° 2017-616 of April 24, 2017 convening voters for the election of deputies to the French National Assembly ;

Having regard to deliberation no. 2011-1 of January 4, 2011 relating to the principle of political plurality in radio and television services during election periods;

After deliberation,

Adopts the following notice:

On January 4, 2011, the French Superior Audiovisual Council adopted a resolution applicable to radio and television services during election periods. The present notice supplements this deliberation for the legislative elections scheduled for June 11 and 18, 2017.

It applies to all radio and television services, whatever their broadcasting method by any electronic communication process, from May 1, 2017 until the day on which the election is won.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, this notice applies :

• from April 23, 2017 to radio and television services in French Polynesia ;
• from April 30, 2017 to radio and television services in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.

It does not apply to services that, exclusively accessible via online public communication, are dedicated to the election propaganda of candidates or the political parties and groupings that support them.

1. Record of interventions

1° As of the dates mentioned above, publishers record the speaking times of candidates, political parties and groupings and their supporters in all their programs.

2° The times recorded are cumulated up to and including the Friday preceding the first round of voting, and from June 12, 2017 up to and including the Friday preceding the second round of voting.

2. Transmission and publication of timesheets

1° The following services transmit electronically to the French Superior Audiovisual Council the statements of speaking times of candidates, political parties and groupings and their supporters recorded in their programs:

• TF1 ;
• France 2 ;
• France 3 for its national and regional programs;
• France 5 ;
• overseas France 1ère (radio and television);
• France Ô ;
• Franceinfo: ;
• Canal + for its free-to-air programs;
• M6 ;
• C8 ;
• TMC ;
• BFM TV ;
• CNews ;
• LCI ;
• Euronews ;
• France 24 ;
• TV5 for its own programs;
• Radio France (France Inter, France Info, France Culture, France Musique, France Bleu) ;
• RTL ;
• Europe 1 ;
• RMC ;
• BFM Business ;
• Radio Classique ;
• Sud radio ;
• RFI ;
• Local terrestrial broadcasting services.

2° For each period mentioned below, speaking times are transmitted on the following dates:

Times are cumulated over the entire period concerned on each transmission date.

3° Publishers transmit to the Council data relating to the speaking times of candidates, political parties and groupings and their supporters in accordance with the conditions, in particular frequency and format, determined by the Council.

3. Obligations concerning other publishers

Other publishers shall provide the Council, at its request, with all data relating to the speaking time of candidates, political parties and groupings and their supporters for the period indicated by the Council.

4. Retention and transmission of other information

Publishers shall keep audio and video recordings of programmes shown during the period covered by the present notice and, where appropriate, communicate them to the Council.

This notice will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.

Paris, April 26, 2017.

For the French Superior Audiovisual Council :

Le Président,

O. SCHRAMECK