Credits: Anipamal / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0.
Yann Barthès, the flagship host of the show Quotidien on TMC, recently took part in a hearing before the French National Assembly’s investigative commission. This session is part of the study on the allocation of TNT broadcast frequencies, in anticipation of their reassignment in 2025. Surrounded by members of his production company Bangumi and executives from TF1, Barthès was questioned in particular about his decision not to invite members of National Rally (RN) to his show.
Video unavailableThe hearing was marked by tense exchanges with RN lawmakers, underscoring a long history between the party and the show. The decision not to invite them was presented as a collective measure, justified by the violence some of the show’s journalists suffered while covering events related to the RN.
In addition, Barthès revisited the circumstances of his departure from Canal+ in 2016, explaining that he wanted to avoid the consequences of a change in leadership. He also addressed a controversy surrounding remarks by Nicolas Sarkozy during an interview in 2020, stressing that the controversial words had been taken out of context.
The commission also discussed pluralism in the media, with a particular emphasis on respecting political sensitivities in the French media landscape. Despite the pressure, the Quotidien team maintained its editorial stance, defending itself against any failing on pluralism while remaining true to its principles of humanism and freedom.
This hearing comes amid heated debates over the role of the media and their impartiality, particularly in the coverage of France’s different political forces. Barthès and his team’s responses before the National Assembly underscore a strong determination to maintain an editorial line consistent with their values, despite the controversies.