Television quotas
The French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication, Arcom, is responsible for ensuring that the broadcasting quotas imposed by law and the decree of January 17, 1990, are abided by. These quotas ensure that audiovisual and cinematographic works of original EOF (i.e. works in the original French language) and European works have a prominent place in the channels' diffusion schedules. In this way, diffusion quotas encourage the production of European and French-language audiovisual and cinematographic works.
Arcom follow-up
Arcom is responsible for qualifying the programs it shows. It publishes reports on compliance with these obligations for national free-to-air channels and Canal+.
When Arcom observes a breach, it takes the appropriate measures, depending on the seriousness of the breach: a simple reminder letter, a warning, a formal notice, or legal sanctions proceedings (which can only take place after a formal notice has been served).
The law requires channels to show a quota of European and original French-language audiovisual and cinematic works, in order to preserve cultural diversity and support creativity.
Obligations to broadcast cinematic works
Of the total annual time devoted to the diffusion of audiovisual works, channels must reserve at least 60% for the diffusion of European works and at least 40% for the diffusion of works of original EOF.
For terrestrial channels, these proportions must also be respected during peak listening hours, i.e. the segment between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., as well as the hours between 2 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Wednesdays (aforementioned decree).
It is up to Arcom to adjust the prime time slot for each television service editor who wishes to do so, according to the nature of their programming.
Arcom is also authorized to lower its broadcasting quotas for audiovisual works, without going below 50% for the broadcasting quota for European audiovisual works, in return for commitments to the production of original French-language cinematic works by independent production companies.
Obligations to broadcast cinematographic works
A quantum regulates the presence of films on TV by limiting the number of diffusions that TV channels can show annually.
In addition, diffusion quotas aim to protect the share of French-language films (40%) and European films (60%) in the total number of cinematographic works shown over the entire programming schedule and during prime time (8:30-10:30 pm).
Finally, a professional agreement, extended by decree, organizes the media release chronology, i.e. the deadlines to be respected, once a film has been released in theaters, for its exploitation on the various media (video, pay-per-view SVOD services, pay-TV channels, subscription-based SVOD services, free-to-air channels, free-to-air SVOD services, etc.).
Television service editors must respect this media release chronology: there must be a delay between the theatrical release of a film in France and its first television diffusion.
Browse the release chronology.