France: Authority for the Regulation of Audiovisual and Digital Communication issued a cessation request to Eutelsat SA

On 19 March 2025, the French Authority for the Regulation of Audiovisual and Digital Communication (Arcom) issued a formal request to Eutelsat SA to cease broadcasting the Russian television channels Channel 5 and STS. This decision was made in accordance with Article 42 of the Law of 30 September 1986 and was based on Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014, which prohibits the provision of economic resources to entities listed in Annex I. The channels in question are controlled by JSC National Media Group, a Russian media holding whose funds and economic resources have been frozen under the Regulation. Arcom determined that the persistent broadcasting of these services via the Eutelsat 36C satellite was in violation of EU sanctions. Consequently, Eutelsat SA was directed to cease transmission of the channels within 72 hours of notification.