C8 (French TV channel)
| File:C8 logo.svg Logo used since 2016 | |
| Company type | Free-to-air television network |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Predecessor | Direct 8, D8 |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Vincent Bolloré (through Bolloré Group) |
| Fate | License non-renewal and closure on 28 February 2025 |
| Headquarters | France |
Area served | France, Belgium (since 28 April 2020) |
Key people | Vincent Bolloré (principal shareholder) |
| Owner | Bolloré Group (via Canal+) |
| Parent | Canal+ |
| Website | www |
C8 () was a French free-to-air television network owned by the Bolloré Group. Initially launched as Direct 8 in 2005, it underwent a name change to D8 in 2012 after its acquisition by Canal+, before adopting the C8 brand in 2016. Vincent Bolloré retained his position as the principal shareholder through Canal+.
History
The inception of the Direct 8 initiative dates back to 24 July 2001 when the CSA called for applications for channels on the emerging digital terrestrial television platform. Vincent Bolloré obtained a broadcasting license on 23 October 2002. Direct 8 commenced operations in 2005 and was rebranded as D8 in October 2012 following Canal+'s takeover. In 2015, Bolloré gained control over Canal+.
On 5 September 2016, D8 transformed into C8, marking a strategic shift under Bolloré’s direction.
C8 expanded its reach into Belgium on 28 April 2020, having previously been inaccessible due to Plug RTL holding exclusive rights to its flagship program, Touche pas à mon poste !.
License renewal refusal and channel closure
On 24 July 2024, the Arcom announced it would not renew C8’s digital terrestrial television (DTT) frequency license, citing multiple penalties linked to controversies surrounding Touche pas à mon poste !. C8 filed an appeal with the Conseil d'État, but its request for interim relief was denied in September 2024, and its main appeal was deemed premature in November. Following this decision, the group revealed plans to cut 150 jobs as a consequence of the license non-renewal. Arcom issued its formal refusal on 16 December 2024, which C8 contested once more. On 30 December, the Conseil d'État dismissed a second interim relief petition, citing unmet urgency criteria and indicating that the substantive appeal would be reviewed prior to enforcement of the decision scheduled for late February.
In 2024, alongside NRJ12, C8 applied for renewal of its national channel 8 authorization on French DTT, set to expire on 28 February 2025. Arcom criticized C8 for failing to fulfill programming diversity requirements—its schedule heavily depended on reruns and entertainment content, with more than one-quarter of magazine programming derived from a single show. The channel disregarded requests to halt live broadcasts of Touche pas à mon poste !, which had resulted in fines totaling €7.6 million due to regulatory violations. Over eight years, Arcom imposed penalties exceeding €7.6 million primarily linked to this program. Financially, C8 had never posted profits since its launch in 2005, accumulating losses amounting to €736 million.
Although it lost its DTT frequency, analysts suggested that C8 could continue operating by utilizing other distribution channels within the Canal+ group’s portfolio, particularly online streaming services.
C8 and NRJ12 became the third and fourth private national French channels to have their broadcasting rights revoked since TV6 in 1987 and La Cinq in 1992 due to bankruptcy.
Broadcasting ended on 28 February 2025 with a final transmission featuring the contentious 2019 American film Unplanned, which had previously been fined by Arcom for its anti-abortion stance.
Entertainment
- Touche pas à mon poste !, hosted by Cyril Hanouna
- Voyage au bout de la nuit, featuring actors performing nighttime literary readings
- Domino Day, with Valérie Bénaïm as presenter
- Le Grand Bêtisier, hosted by Justine Fraioli and Caroline Ithurbide
- Le Zap
- La folle soirée du Palmashow
Game shows
- L'Œuf ou la Poule ?, hosted by Sebastien Cauet
- Le Grand Match, presented by Valérie Bénaïm
- Still Standing, with Julien Courbet as host
- Guess My Age, presented by Jean-Luc Lemoine
- Hold Up!, hosted by Benjamin Castaldi
- Big Buzz Quiz, presented by Benjamin Castaldi
- Couple ou pas couple ?, with Jean-Luc Lemoine as presenter
- Strike, hosted by Vincent Lagaf'
Infotainment
- Focus, presented by Guy Lagache
- Les Mystères, hosted by Cécile de Ménibus
- Au cœur de l'enquête, with Adrienne de Malleray as presenter
- Histoire interdite, presented by Guy Lagache
Talk shows
- C8 le JT, hosted by Émilie Besse
- Langue de bois s'abstenir, presented by Philippe Labro
- La Nouvelle Édition, with Daphné Bürki as host
- Salut les Terriens !, presented by Thierry Ardisson
Lifestyle
- Les Animaux de la 8, hosted by Élodie Ageron and Sandrine Arcizet
- À vos régions, presented by Grégory Galiffi
- À vos recettes, with Grégory Galiffi as presenter
See also
- Canal+ S.A. – previously known as Canal+ Group
- Direct 8
- Canal Star