TF1 is a private French TV network, controlled by the Bouygues group. TF1's 35% average market share, achieved on the ménagères de moins de 50 ans audience segment (house-wives less than 50 years old) makes it the most popular domestic network. TF1 is the crown jewel of the TF1 group of mass media companies, which notably comprizes Eurosport, the largest European sports network.

TF1 originally stood for Télévision Française 1 (French television 1) but the abbreviation is no more expanded today, especially since the 1987 privatization and since this would introduce a confusion with France Télévisions.

Criticism

Critics of TF1 contend that its news coverage is slanted towards supporting right-wing politicians — they were in particular accused of supporting Édouard Balladur in the 1995 presidential elections, and of overstating crime during the 2002 electoral campaign to tilt the balance in favor of incumbent president Jacques Chirac, who campaigned on law-strengthening proposals.

They also contend that TF1's news coverage focusses on anecdotes and on sensationalism, and that their programming often deserves the trash TV name. Getting a 40% market share on every program is TF1's primary objective, dictated by the necessity of justifying advertising prices, so shows which fail this benchmark significantly get off air very quickly.

Such criticism is heavy in the satirical show Les Guignols de l'Info, broadcast on rival private network Canal Plus.

Trivia

On Friday, November 19 2004, Béatrice Schönberg , a news anchor of the public France 2 network had a tongue slippage when relating a major problem which occurred on the Bouygues Télécom cellular network. She said Bouygues télé conne, before confusingly correcting herself; this translates into moronic Bouygues télévision.

Note

1 Source: Médiamétrie

Programs

• 1, rue Sesame

External links

TF1's website