France's World Cup loss draws massive TV audience on M6

France's national team may have lost their World Cup semi-final match against Spain, but the broadcast on M6 achieved a resounding victory in viewership. The game, which saw Spain win 2-0, captivated 20.24 million viewers, securing an impressive 73.1% of the audience share. This figure represents the highest audience for any program in France this year.

To put this into perspective, the 2022 World Cup semi-final had garnered an average of 20.7 million viewers on TF1, with a 66.4% share. The current match's performance on M6 not only surpassed that but also highlights the enduring public appetite for major sporting events, even on a national holiday.

While football dominated the evening, other channels managed to draw in viewers. France 3's rerun of an episode from the popular series 'Alexandra Ehle' attracted 1.41 million viewers, or 5.1% of the audience. TF1 followed with a rerun of 'CSI: Las Vegas,' which drew 856,000 viewers, or 3% of the public. These figures, while smaller, demonstrate a diverse viewing landscape even when a major sporting event commands the national attention.