Impartiality in public audiovisual broadcasting: the first measures set out in the Lasserre report to be implemented from September 2026

In November 2025, Arcom entrusted Bruno Lasserre, Honorary Vice-President of the Council of State, a task aimed at clarifying the scope of the requirement for impartiality in audiovisuel public broadcasting and assessing the existing tools and schemes within public service broadcasters and channels

Published on 29 May 2026, this report emphasises that impartiality entails, beyond the obligations applicable to all broadcasters, a specific requirement to set an example, particularly in terms of transparency, the accuracy of information and respect for the plurality of ideas and opinions.

The report sets out 17 notices aimed at better embedding the requirement for impartiality in public service audiovisuel in legislation and in practice.

Arcom, which has just issued an opinion to the Government on the draft decrees amending the terms of reference for France Télévisions, Radio France and France Médias Monde, welcomes the swift implementation of the notices from Bruno Lasserre’s report—which fall within the remit of the regulatory authority—in the legislation defining the obligations of public service broadcasters.

The developments to the terms of reference recommended by the report – relating in particular to the clarification of the requirement for exemplary conduct and the obligations arising therefrom, the strengthening of the role of the committees responsible for integrity, independence, and the plurality of information and programmes (CHIPIP), and the formalisation of the roles of the broadcasters’ ombudsmen, will therefore come into effect from September.

Having browsed through the three broadcasters, Arcom also notes that they are fully committed to implementing the notices falling within their remit. These include, in particular, the adoption of an editorial charter setting out the ethical rules applicable tonews and the programmes that contribute to it, and the establishment of proceedings for handling complaints regarding compliance with the charter, the implementation of which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. The annual study recommended by the report on the perception of impartiality in the audiovisual sector will be published during the first half of 2027.

Arcom, which is required by law to ensure the impartiality of public service broadcasting, will ensure, as part of its monitoring of compliance with the terms of reference, that all the report’s notices are properly implemented.