French lawmakers are preparing to vote on November 10 on whether to proceed with a debate regarding the closure of CNews, following a petition that has garnered significant public traction. The petition, launched earlier in the year on the French National Assembly’s dedicated platform, has collected nearly 963,000 signatures as of Saturday morning, a surge driven largely by reactions to the racist attack in Trappes. The petition's authors describe CNews not as an information channel but as a 'propaganda machine,' drawing parallels to the two decades of Fox News coverage in the United States that they argue prepared the ground for Donald Trump’s rise, the January 6 Capitol assault, and subsequent shifts in climate and reproductive rights policy. The motion is supported notably by the Left party (LFI) but fiercely opposed by the National Rally (RN). [1] [3]

The political pressure coincides with CNews maintaining its status as France’s leading news channel. In October, the channel tied with its main rival, BFMTV, capturing a 3.6% audience share (PDA), slightly edging out its competitor. CNews also reported a monthly record among viewers aged 25-49, securing a 2.4% PDA in this demographic. However, analysis from the media outlet Les Jours indicates that the channel’s audience is aging rapidly. As of January, 85% of CNews’ viewers were over the age of 50, with an average viewer age of 64 years old. This demographic shift suggests that while the channel retains top ranking, its core identity is increasingly linked to older generations. [1]

Public opinion on the channel’s presence remains deeply polarized. A YouGov poll commissioned by Le HuffPost reveals that French society is split on the issue of suppression: 40% of respondents oppose removing CNews from terrestrial television, while 37% support its closure. Another 22% do not express a preference. The divide is starkly visible across political lines and generations. Among supporters of left-wing parties, 72% advocate for the channel’s removal, compared to only 8% of Marine Le Pen’s supporters. Generationally, 55% of voters aged 18-34 favor ending CNews, whereas 28% of those over 55 hold the same view. [3]

Academic experts suggest that viewing CNews is less a marker of social class and more a cultural and identity-based signal. Jérémie Derhi, a researcher in information sciences, argues that there is no single ‘typical’ viewer profile. Instead, the channel serves as a beacon for those with conservative tendencies who feel their social norms are being challenged by contemporary France. These viewers often express nostalgia for an older version of the country. For instance, Michel, a 79-year-old retired executive and long-time subscriber to Le Figaro, defends his viewing habits despite family conflict. His wife is angered by his watch time, yet he finds value in topics often omitted by other outlets, such as attacks on the extreme right. Though he has voted for mainstream right-wing parties and even Macron, he acknowledges that some CNews commentators can be ‘too extremist,’ preferring BFMTV’s ‘more professional’ tone in comparison. [1]

The channel’s appeal is also rooted in a sense of proximity and ideological comfort. Derhi notes that flagship programs create a convivial, ‘pub-like’ atmosphere where a bond of closeness forms with the viewer. This is reinforced by online communities, such as the Facebook group ‘I Support CNews,’ which boasts roughly 145,000 members. Supporters praise the channel for ‘pure truth’ without distortion, citing patriotism and common sense. Conversely, critics highlight the friction this causes within households. Eva, a 27-year-old leftist from Aveyron, describes regular conflicts with her father, a sixty-year-old son of Spanish immigrants, who attributes his views on ‘white racism’ and immigration control to what he hears on the channel. She finds his arguments lacking in objectivity because they stem directly from the plateau's narratives. [1]

Media historian Alexis Lévrier criticizes the channel’s operational model, arguing it violates the 1986 law on freedom of communication by maintaining an overt ideological angle rather than serving all citizens. He contends that CNews targets specific ethnicities and sections of the population, effectively challenging the democratic model through its rejection of institutions. Lévrier suggests that what makes CNews strong—its divisive discourse—also creates a ‘repulsor effect,’ galvanizing those who demand its closure. Meanwhile, viewership metrics show high loyalty; in 2025, a CNews viewer stayed an average of 42 minutes without changing channels, significantly higher than the 24-minute average for BFMTV. Ultimately, both watching and refusing to watch CNews have become acts of social positioning. [1]

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  1. 20 Minutes « C’est souvent source de conflit entre nous »… Regarder CNews est-il devenu un marqueur social ?
  2. 20 Minutes « Miraculous », « Mortelle Adèle »… Pourquoi les séries d’animation sont à leur prime en linéaire à la télévision ?
  3. fr.news.yahoo.com Faut-il supprimer CNews de la télé, comme le réclame une pétition ? Les Français sont partagés