French Regulatory Agency Reprimands Television Channel Over Satire

CNN is reporting that the French regulatory agency CSA (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel) has told the French subscription channel Canal Plus that it may be fined if it violates a rule which forbids political and cultural sensibilities. The channel regularly broadcasts a show, Les Guignols de l’Info, which satirizes the issues of the day. The episode in question poked fun at Pope Benedict XVI and his membership in the Hitler Youth. The French Catholic Church has also filed a protest. Read the CNN story here. Read more about the CSA here. Read more about the Church’s protest here. The webpage for Les Guignols de l’Info is available here.

“Les guignols” take their inspiration from the traditional French puppet Guignol, who is much like the English puppet Punch of Punch and Judy.