Print Media Distribution

Last month, the Law on the modernisation of print media distribution, which reforms the “Bichet Act”, gave Arcep the responsibility of regulating the print media bulk distribution sector – which had previously been assigned to the Regulatory authority for press distribution (ARDP) and the High Council of press distribution (CSMP).

Priority issues, negotiations over assortment, consulting with the regulator… Arcep is listening closely to the sector’s players

Being keen to meet with and establish a dialogue with sector’s various stakeholders, Arcep hosted a first meeting with them at its offices on 21 November. Twenty eight players from the different links along the print media distribution chain were in attendance: publishers, sector unions, courier services, distributors and retailers (newsagents), etc.

This first meeting provided an opportunity to listen to stakeholders’ needs and concerns by holding a wide-reaching discussion, during which participants were invited to answer three questions:

• What problems should be the regulator’s top priorities?
• What system of consultation could the regulator set up with the sector?
• What are your views on how inter-professional negotiations over assortment have been organised?

Players agree on a first proposal: negotiations over assortment will be monitored, under the aegis of Arcep

Among the those issues that are top priorities for the sector, participants cited defining assortment rules for print publications. By law, these rules must be established through an inter-professional agreement within six months. Print media distribution players agreed on the creation of a monitoring committee for these negotiations, operating under the aegis of Arcep. The sector has already done a great deal of work on this matter, and progress should be very swift.

Creation of a Consultation Committee was also agreed upon  

One of the first actions is achieve is a smooth transition from the old system and regulation by Arcep.

To enable the sector to share its initiatives with the regulator, and enable the regulator to sustain an ongoing dialogue on its actions, participants also agreed on a system of coordination with the regulator: in addition to consultations with all of the sector’s stakeholders, e.g. through public consultations, periodic meetings should be held between the regulator and the sector’s main representatives. It was thus agreed to create a Print media distribution consultation committee, whose rules will be set out in detail in the coming weeks.

Arcep will establish a medium-term vision for the sector’s regulation

Arcep was able to share its commitment to making readers’ interests a core tenet, to ensure that they have nationwide access to a diverse and high quality print media, at an affordable price. This is the compass that will guide Arcep in its decisions.

 Arcep also announced its desire to establish a medium-term vision, something akin to the Strategic Roadmap it adopted in January 2016 on telecoms and postal affairs. This medium-term vision includes two main objectives:  

• Properly coordinate the regulator’s different courses of action, with one another and with the sector’s initiatives;
• Respond to the many priorities that stakeholders listed during the meeting.  

To lay the groundwork, additional information will be published in the coming weeks and months. At the 21 November meeting, Arcep already invited stakeholders to contribute. The Authority will also be holding a series of interviews with a wide array of players, including reader representatives and courier employee representative organisations, in addition to specific work on digital tech issues.