Overview
- ARCOM published a decision on July 2 that formally recalled RTL to order after finding that on‑air remarks promoted Le Marchand’s Club des belles âmes without being identified as advertising.
- The comments under scrutiny came during a special Saint‑Valentin edition of Parlons Amour on February 12 when Karine Le Marchand repeatedly praised her paid dating service while experts who work with the club joined the show.
- ARCOM said the frequency of the references and repeated calls to sign up amounted to clandestine advertising in breach of article 8 of decree n°87‑239, which requires clear announcement and identification of commercial messages on radio.
- Le Club des belles âmes, launched in September 2025, sells an annual membership reportedly at €150 and paid programs and VIP packages that range from roughly €490 for a training to up to €5,000 for six months of prestige support.
- The regulator’s warning forces RTL to tighten controls separating editorial content from commercial promotion and raises broader questions about broadcasters hosting presenters who profit from services they promote on air.