Every Thursday evening, TF1 broadcasts the new season 5 of “Balthazar” at the rate of a single new episode per week. A choice of programming that frustrates fans but is quite easily explained given the success of the series with Tomer Sisley.
Successfully launched last Thursday, the fifth and final season of Balthazar continues this evening at 9:10 p.m. on TF1 with an unprecedented investigation, entitled “Under the influence”, during which the medical examiner played by Tomer Sisley, stuck at home with an electronic bracelet on his ankle , spies on his neighbors to fill his boredom.
Once again, the faithful of the detective series also carried by Constance Labbé will not fail to notice that TF1 is broadcasting only one new episode of season 5 of Balthazar this evening, followed by five reruns of previous seasons … until at 3:15 a.m.
This practice, which differs from the usual programming of the channel which generally offers two new episodes of its French series per evening, is not new since, last year, TF1 had already moved to a single new episode per week from the episode 5 of season 4, which had a total of eight chapters.
And if the One reiterates this programming with season 5, it is obviously not for nothing.
TF1 capitalizes on the very good audiences of Balthazar
With more than 6 million viewers on average during its first three seasons, and 5.52 million followers in season 4, Balthazar remains one of TF1’s strongest brands. Which achieves scores that are certainly far from those of the HPI phenomenon, but which nevertheless places itself at a very high level and is ahead of all the other French dramas on the channel.
A success that was confirmed last week with the first episode of season 5, which gathered 6.06 million viewers, or 28.5% of the public and 22.9% of women responsible for purchases under 50 years, until 10 p.m.
Logically, the channel therefore wants to make the pleasure last and ensure good audiences for the weeks to come.
Especially since this final season – it was Tomer Sisley who himself expressed the wish that the Balthazar adventure would end – only has six episodes in total. Which corresponds to the smallest order since season 1 (seasons 2 to 4 totaled between eight and ten episodes each).
Thus, the rest of season 5 will continue to be programmed at the rate of a single new per week every Thursday evening on TF1. With a finale in apotheosis not to be missed, which, unless surprised, will be offered on Thursday, February 23. A date to mark now in your diary.