Ratings Roundup: Local Fiction Rules in Europe

PREMIUM: Domestic fiction productions and imported formats have a grip on the Monday evening schedules around the biggest European markets, as confirmed by the ratings from Monday night (November 12).

In France, Italy and Spain the top programs were original local productions, while formats led the day in Germany.

In France, TF1’s comedy series Camping Paradis was the top show with 6.818 million viewers and a share of 25.6 percent. France 2 was close behind with the U.S. detective series Castle, the best performing American series of the night in Europe, with 6.447 million viewers and a share of 22.7 percent. M6 was a distant third with the U.S. feature film The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2.763 million).

In Italy, the top audience of the day was scheduled in access time rather than prime time, Affarir Tuoi, the local version of Endemol’s format Deal or No Deal, had 6.015 million viewers and a share of 19.8 percent. Canale 5 led the prime-time ratings with the original police series Squadra Antimafia – Palermo oggi (Anti-Mafia Squad), in its fourth season, with 5.375 million viewers and a share of 18.8 percent. In second for prime time was the drama production Terra Ribelle 2 (Rebel Ground 2) on RAI 1 with 4.320 million and 14.73 percent.

In Spain, public broadcaster TVE1 took the top spot again on Monday, airing the tenth chapter of the historical drama series Isabel with 4.503 million viewers and a share of 21.3 percent. In second place was Telecinco with the sitcom La que se avecina (The Looming) with 3.989 million and 21.7 percent. Third was Antena 3 with Gestmusic Endemol’s original music format Tu cara me suena (Your Face Sounds Familiar) with 3.019 million and 19.6 percent. That show also airs in Italy in a local version.

In Germany, Monday belongs to RTL and imported formats. Number one was the local version of FremantleMedia’s Farmer Wants a Wife with 6.73 million and a share of 21.4 percent. Airing at 21:15, the show followed on from RTL’s local version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? from Sony Pictures Television in the previous slot with 6.29 million viewers and a share of 18.8 percent, second best of any program. However, original local drama was a strong third as ZDF did well with the TV movie Die Tote in Moowald (The Dead in the Swamp), pulling 5.66 million viewers and a share of 17.0 percent.

The top audience on Dutch television on Monday was for Ned 1’s Memories, a series reuniting old family and friends. The long-running show averaged 2.077 million viewers and an impressive share of 30.6 percent.