Benin’s Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication (HAAC) formalized the online broadcasting sector on 14 October 2026 by selecting 16 online television operators for official authorization. This move, executed under Decision No. 26-059/HAAC, establishes a new regulatory framework for digital media providers operating within the country. The regulatory body, tasked with managing the media landscape in Benin, has sought to integrate digital broadcasting into its formal oversight structure through this specific legislative action.
Selection of these 16 web TV services followed a process originally launched by the regulatory body on 11 March 2026. The application period and subsequent review were designed to bring web-based broadcasting under the oversight of the Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication (HAAC). By establishing this formal selection process, the Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication (HAAC) aims to ensure that online media entities adhere to the standards set for traditional broadcast media in Benin. The review period, which spanned several months between the March launch and the October finalization, involved evaluating the compliance and operational capacity of the selected digital platforms. This transition marks a significant shift in how digital content is monitored and authorized by the state.
Regional regulatory trends contrast with these developments in Benin, as authorities in Guinea recently moved to restrict online media. During September 2026, Guinea’s Haute Autorité de la Communication (HAC) issued Decision No. 35/HAC/P/2026, which mandated the immediate closure of Baro TV. This same decision by the Haute Autorité de la Communication (HAC) also implemented a formal ban on four additional web television services operating within Guinea. The action taken by the Haute Autorité de la Communication (HAC) represents a strict enforcement measure regarding digital media licensing and content distribution within its jurisdiction.
The decision in Guinea to shutter Baro TV and ban four other services notes a divergent approach to the regulation of the digital space compared to the authorization model adopted in Benin. While the Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication (HAAC) in Benin focused on selecting and authorizing 16 operators to operate within a new legal framework, the Haute Autorité de la Communication (HAC) in Guinea utilized Decision No. 35/HAC/P/2026 to remove specific entities from the media landscape entirely.
These two distinct regulatory paths show the varying administrative responses to the growth of online television across the region. In Benin, the 16 operators selected on 14 October 2026 are now expected to operate under the guidelines established by Decision No. 26-059/HAAC. Meanwhile, the entities affected by the actions of the Haute Autorité de la Communication (HAC) in Guinea face a complete cessation of their broadcasting activities. The regulatory landscape remains in flux as authorities continue to define the parameters for digital broadcasting in their respective countries.
