On March 24, 2025, the Italian television landscape witnessed a clash of viewer numbers during prime-time slots, with Rai 1's Champagne – Peppino di Capri emerging victorious. Thanks to captivating storytelling, the biopic program attracted an impressive audience, drawing in 4,240,000 viewers, equating to a striking 25.1% share according to Auditel, the country’s leading TV ratings provider.
Going head-to-head with Champagne was the highly popular reality show Grande Fratello on Canale 5, which captivated 2,049,000 viewers, garnering a 16.8% share. Alfonso Signorini, the host of Grande Fratello, noted the intense competition, especially during the semi-final episode, which also saw the shocking eliminations of contestants Shaila Gatta and Javier Martinez.
While Rai 1 triumphed in the evening ratings battle, the show Obbligo o Verità hosted by Alessia Marcuzzi debuted its first episode on Rai 2, but it failed to make a significant impact, managing to pull only 679,000 viewers and a mere 4.1% share. Despite the disappointing start, the prime-time slot remains competitive, particularly with established figures like Marcuzzi at the helm.
Not to be overlooked, other noteworthy programming included Spider-Man: Far From Home on Italia 1, which attracted 1,188,000 viewers for a 7.2% share, alongside La Torre di Babele on La7, gathering 1,194,000 viewers with a 6.3% share, led by Corrado Augias. Meanwhile, Rete 4’s Quarta Repubblica attracted 755,000 viewers, securing a share of 5.4%.
In the wake of Rai 1's success with Champagne, the channel also excelled in the access prime time slots. The afternoon quiz show L'Eredità, with Marco Liorni hosting, commanded 4,856,000 viewers, achieving an impressive 28.5% share, while the popular game show Affari Tuoi, hosted by Stefano De Martino, seized even more attention with a staggering 5,934,000 viewers, resulting in a share of 28.1%. This strong viewership affirms Rai's competence in keeping audiences engaged throughout prime-time and beyond.
As viewers across Italy turn to their favorite programs, the current ratings provide insight into changing preferences. The success of Champagne reflects a growing interest in biographical stories, suggesting that more networks may consider similar programming strategies to capture audience interest.
Each passing week highlights the competitive nature of Italian television, with stakes rising as broadcasters strive to create compelling content. The significance of ratings in this landscape cannot be understated; they play a crucial role in determining the fate of shows and their longevity on air.
