On April 7, 2025, the Italian television landscape saw a fierce competition for viewers as two major programs, Alberto Angela's "Ulisse – Il piacere della scoperta" on Rai 1 and Ilary Blasi's "The Couple – Una vittoria per due" on Canale 5, premiered on the same night. The ratings revealed a close contest, with each show attracting significant attention from the audience.
Alberto Angela's "Ulisse," which focused on the life and works of the famed artist Vincent Van Gogh, managed to captivate 2,843,000 viewers, resulting in a share of 17.4 percent. This premiere marked a successful return for Angela, who is known for his engaging storytelling and deep dives into art and culture. The episode's focus on Van Gogh, a figure celebrated for his emotional and expressive painting style, likely contributed to its strong performance, drawing in both art enthusiasts and general audiences alike.
Meanwhile, Ilary Blasi's "The Couple," a new reality game show, debuted impressively with 2,234,000 viewers and an 18.6 percent share. This marked a noteworthy entry into the reality television genre, which has seen fluctuating popularity in Italy. The show has sparked discussions among viewers, with some welcoming it as a refreshing change after the six-month run of "Grande Fratello," while others noted similarities to existing reality formats, including elements reminiscent of "L'Isola dei Famosi." Despite the mixed reviews, the ratings indicated a strong start.
In comparison, the first episode of "Grande Fratello" from the previous season had garnered a higher viewership of 2,510,000 and a share of 21.28 percent when it premiered on September 16, 2024. This context suggests that while "The Couple" performed well, it still faced a high bar set by its predecessor in the reality genre.
Other programs airing on the night included Alessia Marcuzzi's "Obbligo o verità" on Rai 2, which attracted 702,000 viewers and a 4.5 percent share, showing a slight increase from its previous week’s debut. Nicola Porro's "Quarta Repubblica" on Rete 4 managed to pull in 711,000 viewers with a 5.2 percent share, while the movie "Spider-Man" on Italia 1 attracted 1,181,000 viewers, resulting in a 7.32 percent share.
In terms of overall ratings for the night, "Ulisse" emerged as the most-watched program in absolute terms, despite "The Couple" achieving a higher percentage share. The ratings battle highlighted the dynamic nature of Italian television, where viewer preferences can shift rapidly, and new formats vie for attention against established favorites.
As for the remaining programs, La7's "La torre di Babele" attracted 693,000 viewers (3.69 percent share), and Tv8's "GialappaShow" saw a decrease to 662,000 viewers (4.01 percent share). Nove’s "Little Big Italy" rounded out the evening with 394,000 viewers (2.12 percent share).
The evening's ratings also reflected the competitive landscape of Italian television, where programs are constantly vying for viewer attention. The success of "Ulisse" can be attributed to its cultural content and Angela's established reputation, while "The Couple" seems to have tapped into the current trend for reality television, even if it faces scrutiny for originality.
Overall, the April 7 ratings showcased a diverse array of programming, from art-focused documentaries to reality game shows, indicating that Italian audiences continue to seek a mix of entertainment and education in their viewing choices. The competition between Angela and Blasi not only highlights the popularity of their respective formats but also sets the stage for future programming decisions as networks aim to capture the shifting tastes of viewers.
As the weeks progress, it will be interesting to see how these shows maintain their viewership and whether "The Couple" can sustain its initial excitement or if it will fade in comparison to the established success of "Ulisse." The ongoing evolution of television in Italy promises to keep audiences engaged as new formats and ideas continue to emerge.
