The battle for New Year's Eve television ratings unfolded spectacularly on December 31, 2024, as Italy's leading broadcasters, Rai 1 and Canale 5, aired their traditional year-end shows. Rai 1's "L'anno che verrà," hosted by Marco Liorni and featuring performances from numerous Italian artists, went head-to-head against Canale 5's "Capodanno in Musica," presented by Federica Panicucci and Fabio Rovazzi.
According to Auditel data, Rai 1 triumphed on the night, attracting 5.383 million viewers for "L'anno che verrà," which equates to 36.8% of the audience share. Conversely, Canale 5's show garnered 3.395 million viewers, amounting to a 25.3% share. The strong performance of Rai 1's show reaffirms its dominance during festive seasons, continuing the trend of previous years.
Both shows were part of the customary TV experience for many Italians on New Year's Eve, complete with music, celebrations, and the all-important countdown to midnight. The evening commenced with the annual presidential address from Sergio Mattarella, which reached 5.043 million viewers on Rai 1, representing 32.13% of the total audience, highlighting the still significant draw of political broadcasts even on such celebratory occasions.
Notably, last year's ratings serve as a backdrop to the current competition, where "L'anno che verrà" commanded 6.202 million viewers and peaking at 40.1% share on December 31, 2023. Canale 5 similarly struggled, registering only 2.631 million viewers and 18.1% share. This year's numbers indicate not only the fierce rivalry but also the persistent loyalty of viewers toward Rai 1 and its programming.
While Rai 1 celebrated its victory, it was not without incident. The night featured several live performances, but one particularly infamous moment involving Angelo from the group Ricchi e Poveri caught widespread attention on social media. Despite the gaffe, the show maintained strong viewer engagement, with millions tuning in for the midnight celebration segment, where over eight million viewers (52.6% share) tuned to Rai 1 to welcome the new year.
Rai 2 broadcast the classic Disney film "Gli Aristogatti," which attracted 1.105 million viewers for 7.1% share. This late evening competition between popular films and live performances marked the varied interests of television audiences on this festive night. Notably, "Independence Day" on Italia 1 brought 510,000 viewers (3.37%) and the film "Ocean’s Eleven" on Rete 4 attracted 404,000 (2.67%).
Overall, this New Year’s Eve once again showcased the long-standing rivalry between Rai and Mediaset, demonstrating the cultural significance of these broadcasts. The competition to gather the highest viewership undoubtedly drives each network's efforts to innovate and attract audiences through fresh content. With 2024 concluded, all eyes are now on how both broadcasters will adapt their strategies for the subsequent year. The outcome of this year’s ratings battle is not just about numbers; it reflects viewer preferences, cultural trends, and the future direction of television programming in Italy.