#2026-01ARCOM Recommendation on Election Coverage by New Caledonia Radio and TV Services
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This recommendation sets election-coverage rules for radio and television services authorized in New Caledonia ahead of the 28 June 2026 elections for the Congress and provincial assemblies. From 1 June 2026, broadcasters must give fair on-air treatment and access to candidate lists, political parties, groups, and their supporters when covering the election. The practical burden falls mainly on listed broadcasters, which must track and report speaking times to ARCOM on a weekly schedule. ARCOM will assess fairness by looking at political representativeness, recent election results, polling indicators, and each group’s role in the election debate.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Applies election-period fairness rules to authorized radio and television services in New Caledonia from 1 June 2026.
- Requires fair on-air presentation and access for candidate lists, political parties, groups, and supporters during election coverage.
- Requires specified broadcasters to report speaking-time records to ARCOM electronically on set weekly dates.
Obligations
What this law requires
From 1 June 2026, radio and television services authorized in New Caledonia must ensure that, when covering an electoral constituency concerned by the 28 June 2026 election, candidate lists, candidates or personalities, and supporting political parties or groups receive equitable on-air presentation and access.
When election coverage goes beyond a single electoral constituency concerned by the vote, broadcasters must ensure that political parties and groups presenting candidate lists, and their supporters, receive equitable on-air presentation and access.
Specified broadcasters must electronically transmit to ARCOM records of speaking time for candidate lists, political parties and groups, and their supporters.