France 24 challenges Maghreb’s pan-Arab news channel

Pascale Paoli-Lebailly | 23-03-2011

French international news channel France 24 claims that it is consolidating its position in the Maghreb region, following studies conducted to assess audience ratings.

The channel, which has been broadcasting in Arabic on a 24/7 basis since October 2010, shows that according to a TNS Sofres survey, 78% of Tunisians say they watched France 24 to follow political events during the Jasmine Revolution. Online, 77% of internet users visited the channel’s website.



“France24.com has become the most visited news website in Tunisia, ahead of Al Jazeera (75%), Nessma TV (49%) and Al Wataniya (42%),” it stated.

In that country, 95% of the people who watched France 24 watched in Arabic (compared with 31% in French). In addition, 79% of the viewers polled say spectators say they will keep watching the channel.

Regarding ratings in Tunisia, the channel claimed that France 24 is the second most watched international news channel by opinion leaders on a daily basis after Al Jazeera (13.9% against 17%) and the third most watched by the population as a whole behind Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya.

In the global region, TNS Sofres showed that with an average daily audience of 7%, France 24 is already the second international news channel after Al Jazeera (29%) among opinion leaders.

“This trend is confirmed with the general public as it also ranks second with an average daily audience aged 15+ of 3.2%, behind Al Jazeera (16.2%),” France 24 concluded.