Arcom renews six local Polynesian radio stations for five years

Arcom (Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication) has renewed for a period of five years the operating authorizations of six local radio services in French Polynesia. The six decisions, signed on July 1, 2026, were published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0199 on August 27, 2026, and take effect as of November 11, 2026.

These renewals concern Category A (non-profit) and Category B (commercial) radio stations broadcasting via terrestrial frequency modulation. They are part of the regulation of the islands’ audiovisual landscape, where Arcom ensures pluralism and media coverage of overseas territories.

The six renewed radio stations

Each decision renews the authorization initially issued in 2016 for a new five-year period:

• Radio La Voix de l’Espérance - LVDL (La Voix de l’Espérance - LVDL association, Category A), decision No. 2026-PF-01, NOR RCAR2622748S;
• Radio Maria No Te Hau (Radio Maria No Te Hau association, Category A), decision No. 2026-PF-02, NOR RCAR2622751S;
• Radio Rurutu (Manureva I Te Rai Matuatini association, Category A), decision No. 2026-PF-03, NOR RCAR2622754S;
• Radio Te Reo O Tefana (Te Reo O Tefana association, Category B), decision No. 2026-PF-04, NOR RCAR2622755S;
• Tahiti Web Radio (SARL Tahiti Web Radio.PF, Category B), decision No. 2026-PF-05, NOR RCAR2622756S;
• Radio Te Vevo (Te Vevo O Te Tiaturira’a association, Category A), decision No. 2026-PF-06, NOR RCAR2622759S.

Frequencies distributed across the islands

The renewed authorizations cover a wide territorial network, from Tahiti to the Leeward Islands and the atolls. For example, Radio La Voix de l’Espérance - LVDL operates several frequencies on Tahiti (Papeete, Mahina, Tiarei, Afaahiti, Mont Marau), as well as in Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora-Bora, and on the Niau atoll, with effective radiated power ranging from 100 W to 3 kW.

The holders remain subject to the technical obligations set by Arcom: upon the express request of the regulator, they must provide within one month the technical description of their installation and the measurement of the effective frequency deviation. In the event of observed non-compliance, verification by an approved body may be required. Furthermore, any use of a subcarrier must be authorized.

A pluralism issue for overseas territories

These renewals, which extend authorizations initially granted in September 2016, guarantee the continuity of local radio offerings in an archipelago where media coverage of remote islands is a major issue for pluralism. By renewing these six services for five years, Arcom ensures the stability of a diversified audiovisual landscape, blending faith-based community radios and commercial radios.

For listeners in French Polynesia, this decision means that these six stations will continue to broadcast without interruption beyond November 11, 2026, preserving access to local information and programming across the entire territory.

Source : Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0199 of August 27, 2026 — Arcom decisions No. 2026-PF-01 to 2026-PF-06 (NOR RCAR2622748S, RCAR2622751S, RCAR2622754S, RCAR2622755S, RCAR2622756S, RCAR2622759S).