Burkina Faso’s media regulator, the Superior Council for Communication (CSC), has fined Canal+ International 200 million CFA francs (approx. $330,000) for failing to comply with an order requiring the satellite broadcaster to make national television channels freely accessible to all subscribers, according to an official statement.
The regulatory body noted that the penalty follows a previous decision dated June 12, 2026, which had already imposed a 50 million CFA franc fine on the company for breaching contractual obligations.
At the time, the CSC instructed Canal+ to remove all technical barriers preventing subscribers in Burkina Faso from accessing unencrypted broadcasts of the state broadcaster, Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina (RTB). The regulator specified that viewing access must be seamless and not require users to send SMS verification codes.
According to the CSC, Canal+ was given a 30-day grace period to comply with the order. Following an evaluation at the deadline, the authority concluded that the broadcaster had failed to meet the requirements.
Consequently, the watchdog levied the second, heavier penalty of 200 million CFA francs against Canal+ International.
The official statement, signed by CSC Chairman W. Louis Modeste Ouédraogo on July 27, 2026, did not disclose whether Canal+ has been granted an extended deadline or if the company plans to appeal the decision.
HO/te/Sf/lb/as/APA