French TV seeks resolution

Criminal, medical procedurals enjoy success

By DAVID HAYHURST

Bailly

PARIS -- With the traditional nets' aud shares continuing their long, slow slide in Gaul, the search for the right U.S. series can seem make-or-break. As a result, sales directors are predicting fierce bidding at this year's L.A. Screenings.

For French pubcasters and private rivals, Hollywood shows flying highest are mysteries that get resolved -- whether criminal, medical or both. "CSI Miami" (TF1) and "Without a Trace" (France 2) are still primetime players after several seasons, even if not approaching the dominance of previous years. Rival newcomers "House" on TF1 and "Bones" on M6 are now enjoying comparable viewership.

Canal Plus foreign acquisitions head Sandra Ouaiss thinks the procedural genre has innate strength. "There is the appeal of being self-contained," she says. "It's maybe a bit much to ask busy people to follow anything over time that offers too many complications."

TF1, its aud share still eroding (down 3.1% on the year), has high hopes for proven Saturday afternoon winner "Ghost Whisperer" in the cutthroat late-afternoon/early-evening weekday slot.

While top private rival M6 also has lost share (down 1.3%), it has hit it big Friday evenings with a triple bill of "Bones" followed by "Californication"-- the latter the spoils of a fierce bidding war with paybox Canal Plus.

Ironically, the biggest fish nibbling TF1 and M6 are their own DTT subsidiaries. National leader TMC, co-owned by TF1, is averaging a 2% share of the national TV market, followed very closely by M6's W9. Both digital nets have spent heavily, especially on U.S. crime dramas. TMC also is taking a primetime foray into U.S. comedy this autumn with "Two and a Half Men."

"It's really a new environment for us," TMC topper Fabrice Bailly says. "We had no U.S. shows in primetime at all until 'Criminal Minds' two years ago."