She had the heavy task of replacing a television monument.
A month after her installation in Jean-Pierre Pernaut's chair, Marie-Sophie Lacarrau is acclaimed by viewers.
Since January 4, the new presenter of the 1 p.m. news on TF1 has gathered 5.8 million French people at lunchtime, or 42.6% of the public.
A year earlier, “JPP,” as it is known, was watched by 4.9 million people, or 41.3% of the audience.
The 45-year-old journalist did better than her predecessor, capturing the attention of an additional 900,000 viewers.
TF1's 13-hour newscast now drains 33.4% of 25-49 year olds and 33.3% of housewives under 50.
The increase on these targets, which are very popular with advertisers, is respectively 4 points and 3.7 points over one year.
Successful succession
Jean-Pierre Pernaut was therefore right.
When giving up his chair, he confided several times in the corridors of the chain:
"You will see, Marie-Sophie Lacarrau will do more than me."
Certainly, since the start of the health crisis, last March, all information meetings have seen their audiences swell.
But the very good results of the TF1 news are also the story of a successful succession.
Jean-Pierre Pernaut did everything for the transplant to take.
He organized the handover directly within his JT, whose well-established formula, combining proximity and terroir, has remained intact.
A change in continuity, winning for TF1.
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Marie-Sophie Lacarrau facing Julian Bugier: strengths and weaknesses of the presenters of the “13 Hours”
Not only is its “13 Hours” progressing, but it widens the gap with that of France 2. Julian Bugier, the replacement of Marie-Sophie Lacarrau on the public service channel, gathers an average of 3 million viewers at lunchtime.
Or 22% of the audience.
It managed to convince 400,000 more viewers than a year ago, an increase linked in part to the extension of the format.
However, the front page seduces 2.8 million more French than France 2 at lunchtime.
In one year, the gap between the two channels has widened by 500,000 viewers.
The Bouygues group subsidiary has another cause for satisfaction.
The arrival of Jean-Pierre Pernaut on LCI resulted in increased audiences on Saturday noon.
Scheduled at 1:45 p.m., the program "Jean-Pierre et vous" was followed in January by 192,000 viewers on average, or 1.5% of the public (+ 0.6 point in one year).
At this time, LCI now takes second place in the ranking of news channels.