French television ratings on Christmas Eve reveal significant trends, with the country’s major networks showcasing their festive programming to varying degrees of success. On December 24, 2024, TF1 emerged as the frontrunner during the all-important primetime slot.
Occupying the spotlight was the holiday special ‘Les douze coups de Noël,’ hosted by the charismatic Jean-Luc Reichmann. The show attracted 2.97 million viewers from 9:12 PM to 10:31 PM, achieving impressive audience shares of 25.8% among all viewers aged four and older and 25.3% among women under 50 who are responsible for household purchases, according to Médiamétrie. This performance not only highlights the show's popularity but also reflects its strong appeal to key demographics.
Following closely was the second segment of the program, which, featuring celebrity guests such as Jarry, Soprano, and Patrick Fiori, retained 2.59 million viewers from 10:40 PM to 11:40 PM. This segment garnered even higher audience shares, reaching 28.2% overall and 24.7% among female viewers aged under 50.
Despite these numbers, it is worth noting some decline compared to the previous year. During the same evening last year, ‘Les douze coups de Noël’ had attracted 3.16 million viewers, capturing 26.7% of the audience. Following this, the second part of the program had drawn 3.06 million viewers, equaling 31.9% of the total audience.
France 3 secured second place with ‘Alexandra Ehle,’ offering viewers a repeat featuring actress Julie Depardieu. The show managed to engage 1.23 million viewers up to 10:33 PM, translating to 10.7% of the total audience. Significant but less notable compared to TF1, the viewership for ‘Alexandra Ehle’ was primarily aimed at retaining its core audience without resulting in explosive numbers.
Interestingly, last year on Christmas Eve, the British drama series ‘Les Enquêtes de Véra’ achieved similar success with 1.20 million viewers, approximately 10.1% of viewership at the time, indicating consistent interest over the years for informal series programming during the holidays.
Meanwhile, France 2 landed third with ‘N’oubliez pas les enfants,’ presenting the youth version of the popular game show hosted by Nagui. This special airing drew 1.20 million viewers from 9:07 PM to 11:54 PM, achieving 11.7% of the total audience. This number reflects marginal growth from last year’s statistics, where it was reported at 1.15 million viewers or 10.2% of the audience.
The general trend from these Christmas Eve ratings shows the challenges faced by traditional broadcasters as viewership fluctuates. Notably, the overall number tends to dip on Christmas Eve, traditionally resulting in lower viewer engagement as families often entertain guests or engage with holiday activities.
Despite fluctuations, certain programs continue to show resilience and adaptability to maintain viewer interest. For example, ‘N’oubliez pas les paroles!’ on France 2 demonstrated commendable stamina, with its initial airing garnering 2.10 million viewers (18.5%) and its follow-up attracting 1.93 million (16.8%). Both statistics indicate healthy pickup compared to previous periods and place the program consistently as one of the most watched game shows on French television.
Even as competition stiffens and audiences shift to different modes of viewing entertainment, the penchant for established holiday specials remains, as evidenced by the strong showings from TF1’s festive offerings. It appears as if traditional family viewing continues to retain its charm during the holiday season, drawing audiences back to familiar faces and celebratory formats.
Overall, the Christmas Eve ratings paint a vivid picture of the current television climate in France, with TF1 successfully leveraging festive formats to resonate with viewers and solidify its leading position, even amid some decline from previous years. These ratings form part of the broader narrative of how television networks adapt to seasonal viewer behaviors and find ways to keep audiences engaged during major cultural occasions.
