Ratings Alert: French Prime Time

PREMIUM: American movies ruled French prime-time ratings on Sunday, with Hollywood features taking the top spot at six of the leading channels and U.S. series ranking first at two others.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone drew the biggest audience Sunday with 4.684 million viewers on TF1 and a share of 22.8 percent. Juno came first on France 2 with 3.124 million. Crocodile Dundee 2 led France 4 with 1.224 million. Below the 1 million mark, Thelma and Louise was first on ARTE and The Chronicles of Riddick (Direct 8) and American Pie: Band Camp (NT1) were also channel leaders, while the series Lie to Me (W9) and Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman (Gulli) led other channels.

Murdoch Mysteries, a U.K.-Canada co-pro, led on France 3 (with 3.260 million), while Downton Abbey was tops on TMC.

On Saturday, French programs fared better with game show Qui sera le meilleur… ce soir? (Who Will Be Best Tonight?) in first place at TF1, long-running contest Fort Boyard on top at France 2 and French police series Enquêtes réservées (Private Investigations) leading France 3. U.S. series White Collar was number one on M6.

On Friday CSI: Miami was number one on TF1 and NCIS: Los Angeles topped the ratings on M6, while Vampire Diaries topped NT1. Denmark’s The Killing was number one on ARTE.