Radio audience measurements follow and resemble each other. For better or for worse, the satisfaction of the most listened to of all, France Inter, and the consternation of the one who never ceases to empty the room, Europe 1. According to audience figures issued by Médiamétrie , this Thursday, April 21 at 8 a.m., 40.17 million French people listened to the various programs each day of these first months of 2022. A stable figure over one year but still considerably lower than what it was at the same period of 2020 (42.2 million listeners), that is to say before the great upheaval in listening habits that accompanied the health crisis.
By nibbling 0.2 points compared to the January-March 2021 period, the flagship antenna of Radio France (12.6% of cumulative audience) continues to widen the gap with its first competitor, RTL (10.6% , stable): with its 6.9 million daily listeners, Inter attracts a million more each day than the M6 group station. Between Laurence Bloch taking office, almost eight years ago, and this spring, which will see her leave the management of the station in favor of Adèle Van Reeth, France Inter will have gained 1.7 million listeners. “We have to look at the reality, the French vote for us”, welcomes the leader, “proud” to bring “the most beautiful answer” to the attacks against the public antenna made on the sets of CNews or in one of the Figaro Magazine last winter.
no respite
At the other end of the spectrum of generalist antennas, the descent into hell of Europe 1 still knows no respite. Neither the war in Ukraine nor the campaign for the presidential election will have given the followers of the station controlled by Vincent Bolloré reasons to remain attached to him. The station lost 1.1 points over one year, and now falls below the four-point mark (3.9% AC). In Europe, no matter how hard we try to find a few corners of blue sky (Philippe Vandel’s media program in the morning, Christophe Hondelatte’s afternoons), the situation has never been so catastrophic. This plunge, added to the slight weakness of RMC (5.7% audience, -0.1 point) and the fall marked by France Bleu (5.6% cumulative audience, -0.4 point), a loss of 266,000 listeners for all general radio stations.
Traditionally buoyant for these antennas, the electoral context only seems to have benefited Inter, all of whose sections of information are a hit, and which wins 179,000 listeners. It was also for all of Radio France, adds Sibyle Veil. “Our stations are listened to by 1.2 million more listeners than five years ago, i.e. 15.8 million”, welcomes the president of the public radio. The density of national and international information has undeniably boosted France Info, whose growth of 1.1 points over one year is the strongest on the market over the period. At 9.9% cumulative audience, the continuous news station achieves its “best audience for nineteen years, and its best performance over the January-March period” since its creation, rejoices its director Jean-Philippe Baille.
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