Weekday Broadcasts of 'Questions pour un Champion' Cease Amid Viewer Protests
The weekday broadcasts of 'Questions pour un Champion' will end this fall, prompting strong reactions from host Samuel Étienne.
Key Points
- • 'Questions pour un Champion' will cease weekday broadcasts this fall.
- • Host Samuel Étienne criticized the decision as a 'bad decision'.
- • The cancellation is attributed to high production costs and declining viewership.
- • Étienne proposed resigning to save the weekday airings.
In a surprising move, the beloved French quiz show "Questions pour un Champion" will no longer air on weekdays starting this fall. Host Samuel Étienne expressed his dismay at the decision, labeling it a "bad decision" and asserting that audience numbers do not warrant such a cancellation, with nearly 1.1 million viewers tuning in last Friday alone.
The show's producers cited increased production costs and a decline in viewership as the primary reasons for this scheduling change. However, Étienne firmly disagrees with this rationale, suggesting that the decision stems more from budget constraints than actual audience performance. He fears for the show's future, noting that it could face total cancellation, following the paths of programs like "Des chiffres et des lettres".
In a candid Twitch session, Étienne revealed his conversation with a high-ranking official at France Télévisions, who confirmed that financial pressures influenced the decision. In a lighthearted yet serious plea, he even offered to resign from his position if it would mean keeping the show on weekday airings.
"Questions pour un Champion," which first aired in November 1988 and is adapted from the UK format "Going for Gold," has a long and rich history on French television, making its weekday cancellation a significant loss for many viewers.
The fate of the show remains uncertain as fans and viewers respond vocally to this decision, calling for its continued presence on weekdays.