Guinea's High Authority of Communication (HAC) has banned four web TVs - Fewndaare TV, Global TV, Kimanbourou TV, and BTV - from operating in the country, effective immediately. The decision was made during an extraordinary session on September 26, 2026, and was published in Decision N° 35/HAC/P/2026. The HAC cited the lack of legal authorization and licenses as the reason for the ban. The regulator emphasized that all media outlets must operate within the country's regulatory framework.
The HAC stated that the four web TVs were producing, broadcasting, and transmitting audiovisual content on the internet without any legal title or prior authorization. This, according to the regulator, constitutes an "exercise illégal of the audiovisual communication activity, in flagrant violation of the laws governing the media space." The HAC's President, Boubacar Yacine Diallo, signed the decision, which affects not only the structures but also the individuals involved.
The ban is not limited to the web TVs themselves but also extends to the individuals who collaborate with them. According to Article 2 of the decision, the promoters, presenters, and collaborators of these platforms and information sites are strictly prohibited from exercising any journalistic or audiovisual activity in the name of these structures. Failure to comply will result in judicial prosecution for illegal practice.
The HAC's decision emphasizes that the exploitation of an audiovisual communication company and the broadcasting of programs, including web TVs on digital platforms, require mandatory legal authorization from the competent authorities. The regulator recalled that all media outlets must operate within the country's regulatory framework.
The HAC has tasked administrative and communal authorities, as well as its focal points, with ensuring the strict application of this measure across the country. The regulator's decision aims to maintain order in the media landscape and ensure that all media outlets operate legally.
The ban on the four web TVs highlights the HAC's efforts to regulate the media sector in Guinea. The regulator has been working to ensure that all media outlets comply with the country's laws and regulations. The decision is also seen as a move to protect the rights of journalists and media professionals.
The HAC's decision has significant implications for the media landscape in Guinea. The ban on the four web TVs serves as a warning to other media outlets that they must operate within the law. The regulator's efforts to ensure compliance with the country's regulatory framework are expected to continue.
Key points
- The HAC's decision aims to maintain order in the media landscape and ensure that all media outlets operate legally.
- The ban on the four web TVs highlights the HAC's efforts to regulate the media sector in Guinea.
- The decision has significant implications for the media landscape in Guinea, serving as a warning to other media outlets to operate within the law.
