Last Updated
by Sylvain P
The Brazil-France match attracts over 5 million viewers, confirming the power of football against Thursday evening dramas and magazines.
Victorious night for TF1 thanks to the Brazil/France match, far ahead of Murders in Guadeloupe, while M6 and France 2 battle it out.
Football atmosphere, suspense, and media rivalries: Thursday, March 26, 2026 offered French viewers a mix of classic TV shows and surprising ratings. With a top friendly match between the French team and Brazil, France 3’s exotic fiction, and the magazine battle on France 2 and M6, the evening outlined a television landscape both predictable in rankings but revealing of changing usage patterns. An overview of TV ratings, where the sports event takes the lead by far… but also what the trends behind the numbers reveal.
Overwhelming Victory for TF1 with the Brazil/France Match : Football as the Screen Magnet
TF1 left no chance for competition this Thursday: the Brazil/France encounter, led by Kylian Mbappé and his teammates, gathered 5.05 million viewers. With 31.4% audience share across all demographics, the channel secures an almost arrogant leadership position, far ahead of its followers. Proof of the power of football : with the target audience of women responsible for purchases under 50 years old – the coveted commercial target – the score rises to 36.4%. Simply put, football resonates beyond its historical fans, expanding its audience every season with each event, whether a flagship match or a preparation fixture like this one. TF1 capitalizes on this iconic sports event, confirming that major events remain an invaluable asset in linear TV.
The event took place between 9:05 pm and 11:06 pm, followed by an extended post-match segment : full house for the channel, in a period where the entertainment offerings remain plentiful on TNT.
Fiction, Magazines, and TNT Offerings : The Podium Plays Out Closely Behind TF1
Behind the indomitable first place, generalist channels and TNT fiercely battle to capture viewers’ attention. France 3 adds suspense with the rerun of Murders in Guadeloupe : the crime TV film, a Thursday night staple, convinced 2.71 million loyal viewers, accounting for 16.2% market share. A solid score for a rerun fiction, proof of the special bond between the audience and this familiar world of “Murders … ”. The program secures second place, far behind football, but significantly above the other offerings of the evening.
The struggle intensifies with magazines and sociological programs. The duel between Special Envoy (France 2, Élise Lucet) and Scams ! (M6, Julien Courbet) unfolded neck and neck. France 2’s investigative magazine attracted 967,000 viewers (6% audience share), while M6 reached 1.09 million in the first part (6.2%) and 782,000 in the second part (5.9%). This proximity highlights an enduring thirst for investigation, even as ratings fluctuate over the seasons. Viewers, whether channel surfers or loyalists, continue to rely on the power of storytelling and the promise of revelations.
What about the TNT and niche channels ? Another niche battle with surprises : TFX reveals Mayday and attracts a respectable 730,000 curious viewers (4.6%), France 5 brightens the night with A Night’s Journey (653,000 – 3.9%). TMC delves into pop culture with Barbie : Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling captivate 472,000 fans (3.3%). W9’s nostalgia gamble pays off with two reruns of Only the Truth Matters (482,000 then 416,000 in different segments, respectively 2.9% and 3.1% audience share).
Thursday’s Prime Time TV Rankings for all Programs on the Table :
- TF1 – Football : Brazil/France : 5,047,000 (31.4%)
- France 3 – Murders in Guadeloupe : 2,710,000 (16.2%)
- M6 – Scams ! : 1,091,000 (6.2%) then 782,000 (5.9%)
- France 2 – Special Envoy : 967,000 (6%)
- TFX – Mayday : 730,000 (4.6%)
- France 5 – A Night’s Journey : 653,000 (3.9%)
- W9 – Only the Truth Matters : 482,000 then 416,000 (2.9% and 3.1%)
- TMC – Barbie : 472,000 (3.3%)
- New York, Criminal Intent : 411,000 (2.3%)
- D-Day, Heart of Hell : 263,000 (1.5%)
- Lovely : 196,000 (1.1%)
- Someone Should Ban Sunday Afternoons : 202,000 (1.1%)
- SOS Garage : 154,000 (0.9%)
- In the Heart of the Investigation : 143,000 (0.8%)
- Bible Code : 129,000 (0.8%)
- 100 Days with Emergency Services : 129,000 (0.8%)
The sports event continues to attract a large audience while the crime fiction, often in reruns, holds onto second place. As for the magazine-entertainment duo, it appeals to a loyal audience, but the figures show a slight decline in performance in recent years, possibly due to the competition from digital platforms and evolving consumption practices. Thursdays remain the battleground for established events and family bets : each has its slot, each has its tribune.
