She should have celebrated her 50th birthday in 2027. The “Téléfoot” show, broadcast every Sunday morning, should stop its live broadcast on TF1 at the end of the season before experiencing a new life on the TF1+ platform. Presented today by Grégoire Margotton, the show shows a gradual decline in its audiences in the face of changing football consumption habits. A heartbreak for some of our readers, who grew up with “Téléfoot”.
Among the most loyal viewers, Claire responded to our call for contributions. This 52-year-old woman regrets this change of program: “it’s my Sunday ritual, I will miss this show. » A feeling shared by Louis-David, 37 years old: “I am sad and upset by the bad news, I would have liked this flagship show to continue. » Others are already nostalgic for Sunday mornings spent on the sofa. “These are sporting memories but also family memories,” says Ludovic, 48 years old.
But if the attachment remains strong, the uses have profoundly changed. Denis, 52, points out the impact of social networks: “The goals are quickly visible, so “Téléfoot” Sunday is much less anticipated than before. » An observation shared by François Jost, semiologist and professor emeritus at the Sorbonne. “The first problem is the drop in audience. The second is the change in strategy at TF1, particularly with the loss of certain TV rights,” he explains.
An economic interest
The disappearance of “Téléfoot” on TF1 is also part of an economic logic. With the development of the TF1+ platform, “the objective is no longer necessarily the quantity, but the quality of the audience”, underlines François Jost, evoking in particular the interest of targeted advertising on the platforms. However, this does not signal the end of sport on television. “What changes is the way it is consumed,” he explains.
For Ludovic, “Téléfoot” is precisely the opportunity to occasionally disconnect from his smartphone. “Even if the Internet and networks allow us to access all the sports news, sitting down on the sofa after breakfast allows us to have more in-depth analyzes by professionals. »
Beyond “Téléfoot”, the abundance of matches, the proliferation of channels and TV rights have profoundly changed viewers’ relationship with football. “Too much football kills football? », asks Denis. The problem could also be generational. “The question is whether the product ages with its audience or whether it renews itself,” analyzes François Jost. Young people no longer have the same habits or the same codes.
The “rendezvous” has not disappeared
However, all is not lost for long formats. The concept of appointment remains relevant, but it is shifting. “The platforms recreate this meeting, for example with one episode per week for the series. », explains François Jost. In other words, it is not the end of habits, but their transformation. “We perhaps need a newer language, with rejuvenation,” he concludes.
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