10.2 … 10.0
Look at these two numbers and answer the question: Which number is higher? If you chose the number on the right, you could become the director of France Inter and even the president of Radio France!
On January 18, with a triumphant air, the management of Radio France trumpeted the audience results of France Inter for the November-December 2006 period with a cumulative listening rate of 10 points.
However, this way of presenting the results seems like a slight breach of trust.
Indeed, according to Médiamétrie surveys, although there is an increase compared to the previous wave from September to October 2006, no professional is unaware that the audience of generalist radios regularly varies according to the seasons. Except in the event of a major incident, people do not listen to the radio in September as they do in November.
Thus, it is only by comparing with the previous year during the same period that one can judge the result.
Yet, over a year, dropping from 10.2 to 10.0 points, France Inter has lost 100,000 listeners. Not really something to boast about and certainly not something to deceive the listeners of France Inter.
While some shows are increasing in popularity (notably at 3 PM, “Là-bas si j’y suis” with 50,000 additional listeners compared to last year), most of the new shows implemented in September 2006 by the new director, Frédéric Schlessinger, have led to more or less marked drops in audience.
With a loss of 150,000 listeners, the 5 PM to 6 PM slot has scared away the most listeners, as well as the 4 PM to 5 PM slot (which last year featured Frédéric Lodéon and his “Carrefour” of the same name).
In total, 300,000 listeners have stopped listening to Inter between 4 PM and 6 PM, a record and a stinging reversal for the management of France Inter (and for “La Bande à Bonnaud,” the current owner of the 4:30 PM to 6 PM slot).
In June 2006, moving “Là-bas si j’y suis” from 5 PM to 3 PM, causing a 50% drop in audience for this show, had provoked the protest of more than 200,000 listeners who in less than 4 weeks had signed the online petition “Save Là-bas.” Disregarding the mobilization of these listeners, stubbornly refusing all dialogue, rejecting all criticisms, the very liberal management kept repeating that there was obviously nothing political about it, but merely the goal of boosting the audience, their sole and unique duty.
Therefore, no doubt that acknowledging its failure, and in coherence with its mission, the management will quickly restructure the afternoon of Inter, and notably put “Là-bas” back at 5 PM!
