Paris (AFP)
Carton of audience for Eurovision on France2: Barbara Pravi, doubled in a breathtaking final by the winning Italian rockers, attracted 5.5 million viewers, according to Médiamétrie on Sunday.
With an audience share of 31.4%, France2 came very far ahead of the Saturday evening, ahead of TF1 which offered a document on the 20 years of Star Academy (3.6 million viewers and 16.1% audience share).
It is the best French audience for Eurovision since 2009 (5.7 million viewers, 32.3% audience share), broadcast at the time on France3.
It was Patricia Kaas who then defended the colors of France (8th in the competition).
Barbara Pravi attracted more spectators than Bilal Hassani (16th in the competition) who represented France in 2019 (4.8 million viewers, 30.2% audience share), the last edition before a ceremony canceled in 2020 for cause health crisis.
With her title "Voila", the singer finished 2nd behind the Italian rockers of Måneskin.
This is France's best result for 30 years.
Delphine Ernotte, president of France Télévisions, sent in a press release "a huge congratulations to Barbara Pravi for her magnificent performance".
"She carried the colors, the music scene and the French language high in front of more than 200 million viewers (worldwide)", continues the leader.
Alexandra Redde Amiel, head of the French delegation to Eurovision, greets Barbara Pravi "a great artist".
"She knew, by her youth, her modernity, her talent and her openness to Europe and all its cultures, to seduce and to convince widely the professional juries and the public on all our continent and in the world", adds the one who is also director of variety and entertainment for France Télévisions.
© 2021 AFP