Six Nations opener draws 6.6 million viewers for France Televisions

The opening match of the Six Nations European men’s national rugby union tournament – a heavyweight clash between France and Ireland in Marseille – attracted an average audience of 6.6 million viewers for host broadcaster France Televisions.

The clash, which saw Ireland secure a 38-18 victory, reached an audience share of 32.1 percent for the free-to-air network, with a peak viewership of 7.5 million tuning in to witness the action on France 2 channel on Friday.

However, these figures pale in comparison to the previous outing of the men’s national team during the Rugby World Cup (RWC) quarter-final against South Africa late last year. The game, which culminated in a heartbreaking defeat, attracted an average audience of 16.5 million viewers with a staggering audience share of 62.1 percent for TF1 channel. The 2023 RWC, hosted in France, was broadcast domestically by TF1, M6 and France TV.

The previous Six Nations encounter between Ireland and France in February last year garnered 5.6 million viewers on France 2, boasting a viewing share of 46.2 percent.

France Televisions currently holds the broadcasting rights for the Six Nations through a deal announced in May 2022, slated to run until after the next year’s edition of the history-steeped tournament that features England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Italy.

France next Six Nations match is scheduled for Saturday, February 10, against Scotland in Edinburgh.