CNews Faces Backlash Over Host Controversy and Declining Audiences as Viewers Turn Away

CNews falls behind BFMTV and LCI in April ratings, reports show Paris, April 21, 2026 – CNews has slipped to third place among French news channels in April, according to multiple media reports, as its audience share dropped to 2.7% between April 1 and 18. The decline marks a sharp reversal for the Canal+-owned channel, which had led the ratings for 14 consecutive months and finished 2025 as the top news network in France for the first time since its launch. According to Le Parisien, CNews’ audience share has fallen steadily from 4% in October to its current level, while BFMTV reached 3.1% and LCI stood at 2.9% during the same period. The shift has reportedly caused concern within the channel’s parent company, with one journalist describing a sense of “panic” among staff. Viewers have cited the channel’s coverage of the Middle East conflict as a turning point, saying they turned to BFMTV and LCI for more reliable information. A regular viewer identified as Adrien, a Paris-based lawyer who describes himself as conservative, said he no longer watches CNews regularly, criticizing its shift from journalism to opinion-driven programming. “They don’t do journalism anymore,” Adrien said. “The interviewees reveal no new information and just repeat the same opinions. Their success went to their heads, and they became trapped in their own certainties.” The drop in viewership has also affected flagship programming. Since September, Pascal Praud’s show “L’Heure des pros” has lost 200,000 viewers in the 9 a.m. To 10:30 a.m. Time slot, a decline equivalent to six points in audience share, Le Parisien reported. Industry observers note that the change reflects broader shifts in viewer preferences during ongoing international crises, with audiences seeking outlets perceived as offering more balanced reporting. The April ratings represent the first time since 2022 that CNews has ranked below both BFMTV and LCI in monthly audience measurements.