Match: PSG/Atlético, a small audience to qualify

Is PSG, devoid of stars, still successful? Wednesday evening, the meeting PSG/Atlético (1-2) averaged 1.26 million viewers on the Canal+ channel, which broadcast the meeting and which requires a subscription. This is the fifth best audience on Wednesday evening, behind “La France a un ‘shadow’ on France 2, i.e. only free channels.

The PSG/Atlético audience, however, remains disappointing compared to the Parisian club’s first Champions League matches of the season. Against Girona, a match also broadcast on Canal+, PSG attracted an average of 1.34 million people. The 2-0 defeat at Arsenal was followed by an average of 1.48 million people, while the audience for PSG/PSV (1-1) was not communicated.

Fewer stars, multiplex competition, the explosion of IPTV

How can we explain then that this PSG/Atlético on Canal + attracted fewer people than PSG/Girona? There are many possible avenues and some will say that Luis Enrique’s PSG is starting to bore part of the audience. We can also think that the new format of the Champions League, with several other big matches at the same time, pushes some to watch the multiplex or other matches rather than just PSG.

The development of IPTV due to the arrival of DAZN on the French market has also pushed certain people to cancel their various subscriptions, which is also perhaps a possible explanation, as is the growing disinterest of a part of football lovers for their sport. The fact that PSG no longer has big stars in its squad has also alienated part of the general public. For comparison, this season’s Atlético/Lille (1-3), also broadcast on Canal+, attracted 595,000 people on average, but Lille/Real Madrid (1-0) brought together nearly 1.2 million of people.

PSG audiences in the Champions League this season

• PSG/Girona on Canal+: 1.34 million
• Arsenal/PSG on Canal+ Foot: 1.48 million
• PSG/PSV on Canal+ Foot: ?
• PSG/Atlético on Canal+: 1.26 million