Weekend Ratings Roundup: Western Europe Prime Time

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PREMIUM: World Screen Newsflash recaps the big hits in prime-time on the major free-to-air broadcasters in France, Germany, Italy and Spain this weekend, which included several World Cup qualifiers.

FRANCE
On Friday, CSI: Miami on TF1 topped the day with 5.596 million viewers and a share of 23.9 percent. M6 was second with the World Cup soccer qualifier between France and Finland (4.941 million/21.4 percent). On Saturday, TF1’s light-entertainment show Les enfants de la télé was number one with 3.352 million viewers and a share of 19.8 percent. M6 was second with the U.S. series FBI (2.64 million/13.8 percent) and France 3 third with detective show Enquêtes réservées at 2.326 million/12.2 percent. On Sunday, French President François Hollande was the star attraction. TF1’s interview with him pulled 9.9 million viewers and a share of 41.1%.

GERMANY
On Friday, football won the day for ZDF as the qualifier between Germany and the Faroe Islands drew 7.87 million viewers and a share of 28.2 percent. RTL came second with the local version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (4.84 million/17.5 percent). On Saturday, the biggest audience of the day by far was late-night boxing (11:15 p.m. start) on RTL. Vitaly Klitschko’s heavyweight bout against Manuel Charr pulled 8.75 million viewers and 43.6 percent share. The prime-time winner was a special anniversary edition of ZDF’s children’s game show 1, 2 oder 3 with 3.77 million/14.9 percent. On Sunday, ARD 1’s long-running cop show Tatort was number one with 7.53 million and a 23.3 percent share. ZDF did well with TV movies Johanna und der Buschpilot at 5.03 million/15.6 percent, while ProSieben showed the U.S. feature Prince of Persia (3.10 million / 10.1 percent). The afternoon F1 race was RTL’s strongest performer Sunday with 4.6 million and a 35.1-percent share.

ITALY
On Friday, football was numero uno. RAI 1’s telecast of Bulgaria versus Italy drew 7.048 million viewers and a share of 30.7 percent. RAI 2 aired two repeat episodes of NCIS (the highest was 2.333 million/10.43 percent). Rete 4 did decently with the current-affairs show Quarto grado (Fourth Degree) pulling 2.017 million/10.53 percent. On Saturday, RAI 1 topped prime time with kiddie talent show Ti lascio una canzone with 3.776 million viewers and a share of 20.75 percent. On RAI 2 the premiere of French police show Castle earned 1.972 million and 9.77 percent, followed by the premiere of U.S. series Body of Proof with 1.707 million and 8.52 percent. On Sunday, the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix on RAI 1 in the afternoon pulled the biggest audience of the day with 8.707 viewers and a share of 51.85 percent. Canale 5 won prime time with U.S. blockbuster Avatar (4.300 million/21.62 percent), just beating the build-up to the first night of the Miss Italia contest on RAI 1 (4.238 million/20.12 percent). RAI 2 showed U.S. series NCIS (2.518 million) and Hawaii 5-0 (2.204 million) back-to-back.

SPAIN
On Friday, TVE 1 won the day as the football friendly between Spain and Saudi Arabia delivered 3.218 million viewers and a share of 23 percent. On Saturday, Antena 3 won prime time with the U.S. feature film The Lincoln Lawyer with 2.134 million viewers and a 17 percent share. On Sunday, the F1 race in the afternoon on Antena 3 was number one of the day with 4.778 million and a share of 42.7 percent. Light-entertainment show Aida on Telecinco won prime time (3.315 million / 19.3 percent) and TVE1 was second with the U.S. feature film Next (3.124 million/18.4 percent).