In France a total of 430,000 viewers watched on Tuesday evening, as the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Israel.
Viewers interest in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest increased compared to 2018. An additional 50,000 viewers watched the first semi-final this year, giving a total viewing figure of 430,000 viewers. The show which was broadcast on France 4 had a share of 2.1%.
Semi-Final viewing figures in France:
- 2016 – SF1 – 553,000 viewers
- 2016 – SF2 – 482,000 viewers
- 2017 – SF1 – 573,000 viewers
- 2017 – SF2 – 572,000 viewers
- 2018 – SF1 – 380,000 viewers
- 2018 – SF2 – 724,000 viewers
Who is Bilal Hassani?
Bilal first came to the attention of the French public in 2015 when he participated in The Voice Kids. He performed “Rise Like a Phoenix” which won the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest at his audition, before being knocked out in the battle rounds.
He swept to victory in Destination Eurovision having received 50 points from the international jury, but 35.7% of the televote. From the first performance of “Roi” it took just 10 days before it had exceeded 3 million views.
Source: Sébastien Barké
France was one of seven countries to participate in the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Since then they have participated in every contest aside from 1974 and 1982. Their withdrawal in 1974 was caused by the death of President Georges Pompidou, while 1982’s withdrawal was a result of TF1 declining to enter the contest. France has won the contest on five occasions, the most recent being in 1977 when Marie Myriam performed “L’oiseau et l’enfant”. France’s best result of the 2000s came in 2001 when Natasha St-Pier finished 4th in Copenhagen, Denmark.
