More than eight million viewers followed Jean-Pierre Pernaut's last newscast, Friday on TF1, the TF1 group announced on Saturday.
Jean-Pierre Pernaut bowed out after 33 years at the head of the 1 p.m. newspaper.
More than eight million viewers followed Jean-Pierre Pernaut's last television news on Friday on TF1 at 1:00 p.m., which bowed out after 33 years at its head, the TF1 group announced on Saturday.
This latest 1pm newscast presented by "JPP" "attracted an average of 8.1 million viewers with a peak of 8.9 million viewers, and 59.3% audience share," according to a statement.
"This is its audience record since August 2007".
An extra-large format of almost an hour and a half
"In all, 12.9 million French people came to greet Jean-Pierre Pernaut for his last news", according to TF1.
"This latest news item closes an average week with 49.6% audience share, the record week for its 1pm since August 2009," according to the statement.
The newspaper had taken an extra-large format of almost an hour and a half to bring together the many testimonies of affection from collaborators, viewers, stars and relatives, addressed to the journalist.
"Thank you, I love you, I will never forget you", concluded with tears in the voice of Jean-Pierre Pernaut, who had surprised in mid-September by announcing his decision to stop this newspaper which he had been running since 1988.
He remains active on "JPP TV"
Friday's Diary was followed by a documentary dedicated to the star presenter.
This documentary was watched by 3.1 million viewers, for an audience share of 34%, "a record" for this time since January 2009 in terms of audience share, according to the press release.
The septuagenarian - he celebrated his 70th birthday last spring - is not retiring.
He remains active on "JPP TV", an online platform to offer regional topics created by TF1, and will present on the LCI news channel (TF1 group) a weekly program called "Jean-Pierre et vous", from January 9.