French telecom regulator Arcom has ordered a local satellite provider to stop broadcasting two Russian entertainment channels, STS and Channel 5. The decision was made due to the 2014 sanctions imposed on the channels’ parent company, National Media Group (NMG).
Arcom cited the new legislation, passed in May 2024, as the basis for the decision, stating that it allows the regulator to enforce the order. The regulator gave Eutelsat, the local satellite provider, three days to comply with the decision, starting from the day the order was sent.
The regulator, Arcom, is responsible for ensuring the EU sanctions are respected by French companies and it can impose fines of up to 3% of the company’s annual turnover for non-compliance. In the case of repeated violations, the fine can increase to 5%.
The parent company, NMG, was founded by Russian billionaire Aleksey Mordashov and owns or co-owns over a dozen Russian television channels, including Channel One and Ren TV. The two channels, STS and Channel 5, are entertainment-focused, broadcasting TV series and films, with Channel 5 also featuring a small news segment.