TV ratings: Canal + off to a strong start

Translate: « Turn up the volume and head to the first corner! » The famous tirade by Julien Fébreau had been missed by Formula 1 lovers. And those who were in front of their TV for the start were delighted: this little phrase, which has become legendary, was pronounced twice! Thanks to Sergio Perez and his stalled engine during the warm-up lap. And to restart the race, it was Jacques Villeneuve who took charge. This time, he had remembered his neighbor’s words, unlike at Monza last year.

Be that as it may, this delayed start and animated race were followed by many people. Canal+ had a sense of it, this comeback was anticipated. And to ride the hype wave, fueled in particular by Netflix and its series “Drive to Survive”, the Grand Prix was broadcasted on free-to-air TV. All in all, a great move for the encrypted channel which gathered 1.89 million viewers with a peak at 2.34 million to witness the final Hamilton-Verstappen showdown.

As a reminder, last season, Canal + gathered an average of 962,000 viewers. And for comparison, during Pierre Gasly’s success at Monza, the peak audience reached 1.24 million. The thrilling Formula 1 season announced could well entice some enthusiasts and compel them to subscribe.

The encrypted channel has more than just F1 to satisfy them. In the wake, a hundred kilometers away in Qatar, the MotoGP was also starting its season. The audiences were also very good, with 1.46 million viewers watching Johann Zarco climb onto the podium for the eighth time in his career. A peak audience of 1.61 million also had the opportunity to see another Frenchman, Fabio Quartararo, take fifth place.

Great news for Canal + as they will kick off this weekend of April 3-4 with the Moto GP’s second round in Qatar. See you in three weeks in Imola for the Formula 1!