U.S. Fiction Tops French Programming

June 23, 2009 World Screen
PARIS: Of the top 100 most-watched shows for 2008 in France, 57 were U.S. dramas, while only 13 were French, according to a new report from French audiovisual promotion association APA. 
The production of French fiction reached an all-time high last year, at 912 hours, compared with 807 hours the year prior. France’s main TV channels are continuing to invest in fiction. Arte doubled its investments from 13 million euros in 2007 to 26 million euros in 2008. France Télévisions invested 258 million euros in fiction in 2008, with TF1 investing 172 million euros for the year, Canal + with 36 million euros and M6 with 27 million euros. 
Documentaries made a jump in production, from 1,832 hours in 2007 to 2,059 hours in 2008. The number of docs airing in prime time (8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.) went down for the year, however, falling from 72 hours to 60 hours. In the post-10 p.m. slots, the number grew from 68 hours to 72. France Télévisions invested the most in doc production, at 69 million euros, while M6 reduced its investment from 11 million euros in 2007 down to 6 million euros for 2008. TF1 also lowered its production investment, from 8 million euros to 3 million euros. 

In 2008, TF1 and M6 both increased the number of hours of animation airing. Animation on M6 soared from 44 hours in 2007 to 127 in 2008, while TF1 increased its animation output from 140 hours to 334 hours, year on year. France Télévisions, however, reduced its animated content, with a drop from 972 hours to 845 hours. Gulli, which is the primary channel for animated content in France, remained stable for the year, with a slight drop from 2,950 hours to 2,943 hours. After having a record year in 2006, the volume of animation production has continued to fall over the past to years. For 2008, 259 hours were produced.      

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