TF1 urgently canceled a very big show scheduled for Friday evening, in prime time.
Some people may be surprised by the TV program this Friday evening. While TF1 wanted to launch a new event program of the caliber of The Voice or Mask Singer on this strategic weekend slot, it had to be urgently deprogrammed after an industrial disaster. However, the first channel saw things in a big way, filming in the immense hall of the Aren’Ice in Cergy-Pontoise to ensure this new meeting which was intended to be most spectacular. This innovative program intended to present an epic show, worthy of the circus games of antiquity. Just that.
At the helm of this extraordinary game, TF1 had also put in the resources, with a trio of star presenters: Denis Brogniart, Hélène Mannarino and Jean-Pierre Foucault. And the front page was counting heavily on this new family entertainment to boost its audiences from the holiday period and to properly launch the year 2025. But we have to believe that viewers decided otherwise…
Because Gladiatorsthis brand new and very large program announced with great fanfare, did not live up to its ambitions. Conceived as a spectacular new competition where ordinary candidates face superhuman athletes with physiques sculpted in marble, the game has in fact not found its audience. There is even talk of catastrophic audiences from the very first issue, broadcast on December 27.
Only 1.57 million viewers were there (11.2% audience share), compared to the 3 to 5 million expected for the channel’s biggest programs. A score well below expectations therefore, particularly on the key commercial target of housewives under 50 (16.6% market share). Even more worrying, 700,000 viewers had dropped out between the two parts of this launch evening.
The drama was confirmed for TF1 a week later, the second issue having been even deeper in the sinking. Friday January 3, only 862,000 brave people witnessed the exploits of the candidates and gladiators, a ridiculous audience share of 5.9%. That evening, TF1 was largely outdone by all its competitors, from France 2 to M6 and even Canal+. The mayonnaise definitely did not catch on, despite an XXL cast, a big set-up and intensive promotion. A real snub for the leading chain.
TF1 therefore took a radical decision by announcing the deprogramming of Gladiatorsand its removal much further into the grid. The last three numbers already recorded will be relegated to the second and third parts of the evening. To fill the gaping hole on Friday evening, the channel is banking this January 10 on a One Man Show by Jeff Panacloc then on the return of the show Touristspresented by Arthur. While Gladiators wanted to dust off Intervilles by showcasing the exploits of anonymous people, Guy Lux and Léon Zitrone can continue to sleep peacefully.