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B2 noun #9,500 most common 7 min read

audimat

Top 9,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips audimat in 30 Seconds

Explanation audimat in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to worry about the technical details of 'audimat.' Think of it as a word that means 'TV points' or 'how many people watch a show.' If a show has a 'bon audimat,' it means many people like it and are watching it. It is a masculine noun: 'un audimat.' You might hear it when people talk about their favorite TV shows. For example, 'Cette émission a un bon audimat' means 'This show has good ratings.' It's a useful word to know if you watch French TV because it helps you understand why some shows stay on TV and others disappear. Just remember: 'audimat' = television success numbers. Don't use it for books or movies in the cinema, only for things on the television screen.

As an A2 learner, you can start using 'audimat' to talk about media. It is specifically used for television. You can say 'faire de l'audimat' when a show or a person is very popular and attracts many viewers. For example, 'Le football fait toujours un gros audimat en France' (Football always gets big ratings in France). It is important to notice that it is a masculine noun, so we say 'le' or 'un.' You will often see this word in short news clips about what happened on TV last night. It is a way to measure success. If you see a show that you like being cancelled, you might say, 'C'est dommage, l'audimat était trop bas' (It's a shame, the ratings were too low). This word helps you describe the popularity of media in a more specific way than just saying 'popular.'

At the B1 level, you should understand that 'audimat' is a more technical and professional word than 'audience.' While 'audience' means the people watching, 'audimat' is the statistical measurement of those people. You will often hear it in the context of 'la course à l'audimat' (the race for ratings), which refers to the competition between TV channels to get the most viewers. This expression often has a slightly negative meaning, implying that channels might show low-quality programs just to get more people to watch. You can use verbs like 'augmenter' (to increase) or 'baisser' (to decrease) with 'audimat.' For example, 'L'audimat de cette série a baissé après le départ de l'acteur principal.' This level of vocabulary allows you to participate in discussions about French culture and media trends more effectively.

At the B2 level, 'audimat' is a key term for analyzing French society and media. You should be aware of its origins as a brand name that became a common noun. You can use it to discuss the commercial side of television, such as how 'l'audimat' determines 'les revenus publicitaires' (advertising revenue). You should also be able to distinguish between 'l'audimat' and 'la part d'audience' (market share), which is a more precise way of measuring success. B2 learners should be able to use the word in more complex sentences, such as: 'Malgré des critiques élogieuses, l'audimat n'a pas été au rendez-vous, ce qui a conduit à l'arrêt du programme.' This shows a nuanced understanding of how the word functions in a professional or analytical context. You can also discuss the social impact of 'la tyrannie de l'audimat' on the quality of public discourse.

For C1 learners, 'audimat' is a word that appears in high-level sociological and political debates about the media. You should understand the nuances of how 'l'audimat' influences editorial choices in newsrooms. You might encounter academic texts discussing 'la dictature de l'audimat' and its effect on 'le pluralisme' or 'la qualité de l'information.' At this level, you can use the word to construct sophisticated arguments about the evolution of television in the face of digital competition. For example, you might analyze how 'l'audimat traditionnel' is being challenged by 'les métriques de streaming.' You should also be comfortable using related professional terms like 'ménagère de moins de cinquante ans' (the traditional target demographic for ratings) in conjunction with 'audimat' to show a deep understanding of French media structures.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'audimat' and its implications. You can use it in a variety of registers, from casual conversation to formal academic writing. You understand the historical context of Médiamétrie and how the 'audimat' system has evolved over decades. You can engage in complex philosophical discussions about whether a democracy can function properly when public information is subject to 'les lois de l'audimat.' You are also aware of the linguistic nuances, such as how the term is used metaphorically in politics to describe a candidate's 'valeur médiatique.' Your use of the word should be seamless, incorporating it into discussions about 'l'économie de l'attention' and the shifting paradigms of modern communication. You can critique the methodologies used to calculate 'l'audimat' and discuss their limitations in the age of multi-screen viewing.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

audimat in 30 Seconds

Audimat refers to the measurement of television ratings in France.
It is a masculine noun (un audimat) and is a genericized trademark.
The term is essential for discussing media success and advertising revenue.
Common expressions include 'la course à l'audimat' (the race for ratings).

The word audimat is a quintessential term in the French media landscape, referring specifically to the measurement of television audience sizes. While English speakers might simply say 'ratings' or 'TV ratings,' the French term carries a specific historical weight. Originally, it was a brand name for the automated system used by Médiamétrie, the national organization responsible for audience measurement in France. Over time, it became a genericized trademark, much like 'Kleenex' or 'Xerox,' used by everyone from journalists to casual viewers to describe how many people are tuned into a particular program at a given time. In the modern era, l'audimat dictates the survival of television shows, influencing everything from advertising costs to the scheduling of prime-time news.

La Part d'Audience (PDA): This refers to the percentage of the total viewing audience that is watching a specific channel or program during a specific period. It is the most common metric used when discussing audimat results.
La Course à l'Audimat: A common expression meaning 'the race for ratings.' It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting that television channels are prioritizing sensationalism or low-brow content just to attract more viewers.

La chaîne a annulé l'émission à cause d'un audimat catastrophique.

The channel cancelled the show because of catastrophic ratings.

Understanding audimat is crucial for grasping French cultural critiques of media. It is often used in debates about the quality of public versus private broadcasting. Critics might argue that 'la tyrannie de l'audimat' (the tyranny of ratings) prevents the production of educational or high-culture programming because such shows rarely compete with reality TV or major sporting events in terms of raw numbers. When you hear this word on the news, it's usually followed by figures in millions or percentages, highlighting the collective habits of the French population on a given evening, such as during a presidential debate or a World Cup final.

Le record d' audimat a été battu hier soir lors de la finale.

The ratings record was broken last night during the final.

Médiamétrie: The company that provides the official audimat data in France. Their name is synonymous with the accuracy and legitimacy of these figures.

Using audimat correctly requires understanding its role as a mass noun representing a statistical concept. You will frequently see it paired with verbs of movement or measurement: monter (to go up), chuter (to drop), stagner (to stagnate), or exploser (to skyrocket). Because it is a technical metric, it functions as the subject or the direct object in most professional and journalistic contexts.

Les producteurs s'inquiètent de la baisse constante de l'audimat depuis trois mois.

Producers are worried about the constant drop in ratings over the last three months.

In conversation, you can use it to justify why a show is popular or why it was cancelled. It’s also common to use it metaphorically to describe something that attracts a lot of attention, even outside of television. For instance, a politician might be said to 'faire de l'audimat' if their appearances consistently draw large crowds or high viewership, implying they are a 'draw' for the media.

Faire de l'audimat: To generate high ratings. This is an active expression used for performers or hosts who are popular with the public.
L'audimat en berne: Literally 'ratings at half-mast,' used to describe very low or disappointing ratings.

Cette nouvelle série réalise un audimat exceptionnel pour sa première diffusion.

This new series is achieving exceptional ratings for its first broadcast.

When discussing the impact of streaming services like Netflix or YouTube, the word audimat is sometimes replaced by 'nombre de vues' (number of views), but in traditional media analysis, audimat remains the king of terminology. It encapsulates the financial health of a television network, as higher audimat directly translates to higher advertising revenue.

You will encounter audimat most frequently in the French press, particularly in sections dedicated to 'Médias' or 'Culture.' Newspapers like Le Monde or Le Figaro regularly publish reports on the previous night's viewing figures. On television itself, news anchors often mention the audimat of major events, such as a presidential address or a national holiday parade, to demonstrate the public's interest in the topic.

Les chiffres de l' audimat seront publiés demain matin à neuf heures.

The rating figures will be published tomorrow morning at nine o'clock.

In a professional setting, if you work in marketing, advertising, or communications in France, audimat will be a daily part of your vocabulary. It is the yardstick by which the success of a campaign is measured. In casual conversation, people use it when discussing their favorite shows, often lamenting that a 'good' show was cancelled because of 'l'audimat,' implying that the general public has poor taste or that the networks are too profit-driven.

Le Prime-time: The time slot where audimat is most critical, usually between 8:00 PM and 10:30 PM in France.
Une Émission Phare: A flagship show that consistently brings in high audimat for a channel.

Pour booster l' audimat, ils ont invité une star internationale.

To boost the ratings, they invited an international star.

The most frequent mistake for English speakers is confusing l'audience and l'audimat. While they are related, they are not interchangeable. L'audience refers to the group of people (the public), whereas l'audimat refers to the measurement of that group. You can say 'L'audience est jeune' (The audience is young), but you cannot say 'L'audimat est jeune.' You would instead say 'L'audimat montre que le public est jeune.'

Faux : Cet acteur a un grand audimat.
Vrai : Cet acteur attire une grande audience.

Common confusion between the metric and the people.

Another error is using audimat for things that aren't measured by TV meters. For example, don't use it for theater attendance, book sales, or website traffic. For theater, use fréquentation; for books, use ventes; for websites, use trafic or nombre de visiteurs. Audimat is strictly bound to the world of television broadcasting.

Audience vs Audimat: Audience = The people watching. Audimat = The statistical data/rating.
Genre Error: Do not say 'la' audimat. It is always 'le' audimat (masculine).

Il ne faut pas sacrifier la qualité sur l'autel de l' audimat.

One must not sacrifice quality on the altar of ratings (a common critique).

If you want to vary your vocabulary or sound more technical, there are several alternatives to audimat. The most direct synonym is l'audience, but as noted, it usually refers to the collective group of viewers. In a more formal or administrative context, le taux d'écoute is used to describe the percentage of the population watching a program.

Taux d'écoute: Often used interchangeably with audimat in news reports but sounds slightly more formal.
Part de marché: Market share. This is used when comparing one channel's performance against all other channels currently broadcasting.

L'audience globale de la télévision est en baisse, mais cet audimat spécifique reste stable.

The overall TV audience is declining, but these specific ratings remain stable.

For radio, the term is almost never audimat. Instead, people use les chiffres de la radio or l'audience radio. For social media and digital platforms, l'engagement or les statistiques de visionnage are the preferred terms. Using audimat for a TikTok video would sound outdated or technically incorrect.

Le succès d'estime ne se traduit pas toujours en audimat.

Critical success does not always translate into ratings.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

Before 'audimat', audience measurement was done via telephone surveys or paper diaries. The Audimat device was a box connected to the TV that automatically recorded what was being watched.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˌəʊ.di.ˈmæt/

US /ˌoʊ.di.ˈmæt/

The stress in French is even, but in English, learners tend to stress the last syllable: au-di-MAT.

Rhymes With

format climat anonymat pensionnat artisanat assassinat résultat plat

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 't' at the end is correct in French (unlike many other words).
Don't pronounce it like 'audio'. The 'au' is a closed 'o' sound.
Avoid nasalizing the 'i' or 'a'.
The 'd' is soft, not aspirated.
The 'mat' sounds like the English word 'mat'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in news articles and reports.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the 't' is pronounced and the noun is masculine.

Speaking 3/5

Simple pronunciation, but don't confuse it with 'audience'.

Listening 2/5

Very common on French TV and radio; easy to pick out.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

télévision regarder émission public chiffre

Learn Next

Médiamétrie part d'audience prime-time annonceur redevance

Advanced

matraquage publicitaire sensationnalisme pluralisme échantillonnage panel

Grammar to Know

Nouns ending in -at are usually masculine.

Le climat, l'audimat, le format, le pensionnat.

Using 'faire' to express producing a result.

Faire de l'audimat, faire du bruit, faire peur.

The use of 'de l'' before a vowel or mute 'h'.

L'audimat, l'histoire, l'argent.

Quantifying with 'de' after words like 'record' or 'baisse'.

Une baisse d'audimat, un record d'audimat.

Adjective placement (gros/grand usually before the noun).

Un gros audimat, une grande audience.

Examples by Level

Le film a un bon audimat.

The movie has good ratings.

Audimat is masculine, so we use 'un' or 'le'.

L'audimat est important pour la télé.

Ratings are important for TV.

Use 'l'' before audimat because it starts with a vowel.

Regarde l'audimat de ce soir !

Look at tonight's ratings!

Imperative form of 'regarder'.

C'est un gros audimat.

It is a big rating.

'Gros' comes before the noun.

Pourquoi l'audimat est bas ?

Why are the ratings low?

Question structure with 'pourquoi'.

L'audimat monte vite.

The ratings are going up fast.

Present tense of 'monter'.

Il aime l'audimat.

He likes the ratings.

Subject-Verb-Object order.

L'audimat de TF1 est haut.

TF1's ratings are high.

'Haut' is the adjective for high.

Cette émission fait beaucoup d'audimat.

This show gets a lot of ratings.

The expression 'faire de l'audimat' means to get ratings.

Ils ont annulé la série à cause de l'audimat.

They cancelled the series because of the ratings.

'À cause de' followed by the noun.

L'audimat baisse chaque semaine.

The ratings drop every week.

'Chaque' means every.

Le journal de 20h a un record d'audimat.

The 8 PM news has a ratings record.

'Record d'audimat' is a common compound noun phrase.

Est-ce que l'audimat est bon pour ce dessin animé ?

Are the ratings good for this cartoon?

Question using 'est-ce que'.

Le directeur veut augmenter l'audimat.

The director wants to increase the ratings.

Infinitive 'augmenter' after 'veut'.

On parle de l'audimat dans le journal.

They are talking about ratings in the newspaper.

'On' can mean 'they' or 'people in general'.

L'audimat n'est pas tout dans la vie.

Ratings aren't everything in life.

Negation 'ne... pas'.

La chaîne mise tout sur l'audimat du match.

The channel is betting everything on the match's ratings.

'Miser sur' means to bet/rely on.

L'audimat influence le prix des publicités.

Ratings influence the price of advertisements.

Present tense of 'influencer'.

C'est une véritable course à l'audimat entre ces deux chaînes.

It's a real race for ratings between these two channels.

'Course à l'audimat' is a fixed idiom.

Malgré un bon audimat, l'émission s'arrête.

Despite good ratings, the show is stopping.

'Malgré' is followed directly by the noun.

Les chiffres de l'audimat sont tombés ce matin.

The rating figures came out this morning.

'Sont tombés' is used for news or results being released.

Elle ne se soucie pas de l'audimat, elle veut faire de la qualité.

She doesn't care about ratings; she wants to produce quality.

'Se soucier de' means to care about.

L'audimat a chuté de moitié en un an.

Ratings have dropped by half in a year.

'Chuter' is a more dramatic word for 'baisser'.

Le succès d'un animateur dépend de son audimat.

A host's success depends on their ratings.

'Dépendre de' requires the preposition 'de'.

L'audimat est devenu le seul critère de réussite pour certains producteurs.

Ratings have become the only success criterion for some producers.

Passé composé with 'être'.

Le service public doit-il s'affranchir de la dictature de l'audimat ?

Should public broadcasting free itself from the dictatorship of ratings?

'S'affranchir de' means to free oneself from.

Cette polémique a servi à doper l'audimat de la chaîne.

This controversy served to boost the channel's ratings.

'Doper' is a vivid verb for boosting.

Les méthodes de calcul de l'audimat sont souvent remises en question.

The methods for calculating ratings are often questioned.

Passive voice 'sont remises en question'.

L'audimat ne reflète pas toujours la qualité intrinsèque d'une œuvre.

Ratings don't always reflect the intrinsic quality of a work.

'Refléter' means to reflect.

On observe une fragmentation de l'audimat avec la multiplication des chaînes.

We are observing a fragmentation of ratings with the multiplication of channels.

'Fragmentation' refers to the audience splitting up.

Le pic d'audimat a été atteint lors de l'allocution présidentielle.

The ratings peak was reached during the presidential address.

'Pic d'audimat' means peak ratings.

L'audimat est un outil indispensable pour les annonceurs.

Ratings are an indispensable tool for advertisers.

Indispensable means essential.

La quête effrénée de l'audimat peut nuire à l'éthique journalistique.

The frantic quest for ratings can harm journalistic ethics.

'Effrénée' means frantic or unrestrained.

L'audimat est le baromètre de la popularité médiatique instantanée.

Ratings are the barometer of instantaneous media popularity.

Metaphorical use of 'baromètre'.

Il faut analyser l'audimat à travers le prisme de la sociologie des médias.

Ratings must be analyzed through the prism of media sociology.

'À travers le prisme de' is a sophisticated prepositional phrase.

Les annonceurs délaissent les programmes à faible audimat au profit des blockbusters.

Advertisers are abandoning low-rating programs in favor of blockbusters.

'Au profit de' means in favor of / for the benefit of.

L'audimat consolidé prend désormais en compte le replay.

Consolidated ratings now take catch-up TV into account.

'Consolidé' refers to combined data.

La tyrannie de l'audimat impose un rythme effréné aux productions télévisuelles.

The tyranny of ratings imposes a frantic pace on TV productions.

'Imposer' followed by a direct object and indirect object.

L'audimat est un indicateur de performance clé (KPI) dans le secteur audiovisuel.

Ratings are a key performance indicator (KPI) in the audiovisual sector.

Use of professional acronyms like KPI.

Certains intellectuels dénoncent l'audimat comme une menace pour la culture.

Some intellectuals denounce ratings as a threat to culture.

'Dénoncer comme' means to denounce as.

L'audimat, par sa nature quantitative, occulte souvent la dimension qualitative des contenus.

Ratings, by their quantitative nature, often obscure the qualitative dimension of content.

'Occulter' is a high-level verb for 'to hide' or 'to obscure'.

On ne saurait réduire la valeur d'une œuvre à son seul audimat.

One cannot reduce the value of a work to its ratings alone.

Formal 'on ne saurait' structure.

L'audimat cristallise les tensions entre impératifs commerciaux et missions de service public.

Ratings crystallize the tensions between commercial imperatives and public service missions.

'Cristalliser' means to bring together or make clear (tensions).

La pérennité d'une chaîne privée est intrinsèquement liée à ses performances d'audimat.

The sustainability of a private channel is intrinsically linked to its rating performances.

'Pérennité' means sustainability/longevity.

L'avènement du numérique a radicalement bouleversé l'hégémonie de l'audimat traditionnel.

The advent of digital technology has radically disrupted the hegemony of traditional ratings.

'Bouleverser' means to overturn or disrupt.

Les biais méthodologiques de l'audimat font l'objet de vifs débats académiques.

The methodological biases of ratings are the subject of intense academic debate.

'Faire l'objet de' means to be the subject of.

L'audimat agit comme un puissant levier de normalisation des formats télévisuels.

Ratings act as a powerful lever for the normalization of television formats.

'Agir comme' means to act like.

Il est impératif de déconstruire le mythe de l'audimat comme reflet exact de l'opinion publique.

It is imperative to deconstruct the myth of ratings as an exact reflection of public opinion.

'Déconstruire' is a high-level analytical verb.

Common Collocations

record d'audimat

baisse d'audimat

chiffres de l'audimat

faire de l'audimat

booster l'audimat

perdre de l'audimat

guerre de l'audimat

pic d'audimat

calculer l'audimat

sacrifier à l'audimat

Common Phrases

La course à l'audimat

— The intense competition between TV channels to attract the most viewers, often at the expense of quality.

La course à l'audimat pousse les chaînes au sensationnalisme.

L'audimat en berne

— When ratings are very low or disappointing, similar to a flag at half-mast.

Avec un audimat en berne, le talk-show risque d'être annulé.

Faire un carton d'audimat

— To achieve a massive success in terms of ratings.

La nouvelle série a fait un carton d'audimat dès le premier épisode.

La dictature de l'audimat

— The idea that ratings control everything and prevent creative freedom.

Les réalisateurs se plaignent de la dictature de l'audimat.

Un audimat décevant

— Ratings that are lower than expected.

Le retour de la star a généré un audimat décevant.

Surveiller l'audimat

— To closely watch the viewing figures.

Le directeur surveille l'audimat de près.

L'audimat de pointe

— The highest ratings achieved during a specific event.

L'audimat de pointe a été atteint pendant les tirs au but.

Un réservoir d'audimat

— A show or person that consistently brings in viewers.

Le sport est un grand réservoir d'audimat.

L'audimat moyen

— The average number of viewers over a period.

L'audimat moyen de la saison est de 4 millions.

Exploser l'audimat

— To have ratings that are exceptionally high, 'blowing up' the charts.

L'interview exclusive a fait exploser l'audimat.

Often Confused With

audimat vs Audience

Audience is the group of people; Audimat is the statistical measurement of that group.

audimat vs Audition

Audition means a hearing or a tryout for a role, not ratings.

audimat vs Audit

An audit is a financial inspection, though 'audimat' comes from a similar root, they are used in different sectors.

Idioms & Expressions

"Vendre son âme à l'audimat"

— To compromise one's values or quality for the sake of getting higher ratings.

Ce journaliste a vendu son âme à l'audimat en devenant polémiste.

critical

"L'audimat est roi"

— Ratings are the ultimate decider of success in television.

À la télévision commerciale, l'audimat est roi.

neutral

"Sacrifier sur l'autel de l'audimat"

— To give up something important (like truth or art) just to get more viewers.

La culture est souvent sacrifiée sur l'autel de l'audimat.

literary

"L'audimat fait la loi"

— Ratings dictate the rules and decisions in the media industry.

Dans ce milieu, c'est l'audimat qui fait la loi.

neutral

"Un audimat de ministre"

— Exceptionally high ratings, comparable to the attention a minister might get (rare/humorous).

Il a fait un audimat de ministre hier soir.

informal

"Courir après l'audimat"

— To constantly struggle and try everything to get better ratings.

La chaîne court après l'audimat sans succès.

neutral

"L'audimat ne ment pas"

— Used to say that numbers show the real popularity, regardless of what critics say.

Les critiques détestent, mais l'audimat ne ment pas.

neutral

"Tuer l'audimat"

— To do something so boring or bad that people stop watching.

Ce long discours va tuer l'audimat.

informal

"L'audimat à tout prix"

— Seeking ratings regardless of the consequences or ethics.

Ils pratiquent la politique de l'audimat à tout prix.

critical

"Nourrir l'audimat"

— To provide content specifically designed to keep ratings high.

Il faut nourrir l'audimat avec des scoops.

professional

Easily Confused

audimat vs Audience

Both relate to viewers.

Audience is the collective noun for the people. Audimat is the specific number/score. You can see an audience, but you read an audimat.

L'audience était ravie, et l'audimat a confirmé ce succès.

audimat vs Fréquentation

Both measure how many people attend/watch.

Fréquentation is used for physical places like cinemas, museums, or theaters. Audimat is only for TV.

La fréquentation des musées augmente, contrairement à l'audimat de la télé.

audimat vs Tirage

Both measure the reach of media.

Tirage is used for the number of copies printed for newspapers or books. Audimat is for TV viewers.

Ce journal a un gros tirage, mais peu d'audimat sur sa chaîne web.

audimat vs Vues

Both measure digital/visual content.

Vues (views) is used for YouTube or social media. Audimat is for traditional broadcast TV.

Sa vidéo a fait des millions de vues, bien plus que l'audimat de l'émission.

audimat vs Entrées

Both measure success in the visual arts.

Entrées refers specifically to tickets sold in a movie theater.

Le film a fait 2 millions d'entrées au cinéma avant de cartonner à l'audimat.

Sentence Patterns

L'audimat est [adjective].

L'audimat est bon.

Cette émission fait [adverb] d'audimat.

Cette émission fait beaucoup d'audimat.

L'audimat a [verb in passé composé].

L'audimat a augmenté hier soir.

À cause de l'audimat, [sentence].

À cause de l'audimat, le show s'arrête.

La course à l'audimat [verb].

La course à l'audimat change la télé.

[Noun] permet de booster l'audimat.

Le sport permet de booster l'audimat.

L'audimat ne saurait être [adjective].

L'audimat ne saurait être le seul critère.

Sous l'égide de l'audimat, [sentence].

Sous l'égide de l'audimat, les formats se ressemblent.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Common in media, journalism, and business; less common in everyday domestic life unless discussing a specific show's success.

Common Mistakes

La audimat est haute. → L'audimat est haut.
Audimat is masculine, not feminine.
Le film a eu une grande audience de 5 millions. → Le film a eu un audimat de 5 millions.
When citing specific numbers, 'audimat' is more appropriate than 'audience'.
J'ai regardé l'audimat au théâtre. → J'ai regardé la fréquentation au théâtre.
'Audimat' is only for television.
L'audimat a été très content. → L'audience a été très contente.
The 'audimat' (numbers) cannot feel emotions; only the 'audience' (people) can.
L'audimat de ce livre est bon. → Les ventes de ce livre sont bonnes.
Use 'ventes' for books, not 'audimat'.

Tips

Learn the Verbs

Don't just learn the noun. Learn the verbs that go with it: booster, chuter, stagner, exploser. This makes your French sound much more natural.

9:00 AM Ritual

Remember that the audimat is a daily news event in France. If you want to talk about media, check the 'chiffres du jour' in French newspapers.

Pronounce the T

It sounds like 'mat.' If you don't pronounce the 't,' people might think you are saying 'audima' (which isn't a word) or confuse it with 'audimat' in a different context.

Audience vs Audimat

Think of 'Audience' as the people (human) and 'Audimat' as the points (math). You can love an audience, but you analyze an audimat.

Use 'Course à l'audimat'

This is a very common phrase to describe the competitive nature of modern media. It’s great for B2/C1 essays.

Digital context

When talking about Netflix or YouTube, use 'nombre de vues' instead. Using 'audimat' for social media makes you sound a bit old-fashioned.

Quebec Tip

If you are in Montreal, say 'cote d'écoute.' People will understand 'audimat,' but it sounds very 'from France' to them.

Avoid repetition

If you use 'audimat' in one sentence, use 'parts de marché' or 'score' in the next to vary your writing.

The 'AU' sound

The 'au' at the beginning is a closed 'o' like in 'eau' or 'beau.' Don't say 'ow' or 'ah'.

Médiamétrie

Always mention Médiamétrie when discussing audimat in a professional context; it shows you know the industry.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of an 'Audio-Mat'—a mat you sit on to listen to (and watch) TV, and the 'mat' counts how many people are sitting there.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant TV screen with a scoreboard on top, like in a sports stadium, but instead of goals, it shows 'Audimat' points.

Word Web

Télévision Publicité Succès Chiffres Médiamétrie Émission Chaîne Spectateur

Challenge

Try to find the 'audimat' results for a French show like 'Koh-Lanta' or 'The Voice France' online. See if you can explain in French why you think the numbers are high or low.

Word Origin

The word 'audimat' is a portmanteau and a genericized trademark. It was originally the name of a device created in the 1980s.

Original meaning: It combines 'Audience' (from Latin 'audire', to hear) and 'Mat' (from the company name Médiamétrie or 'Automatique').

Romance (French), with modern technical branding origins.

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'audimat' to judge a show; some people might find it elitist to imply that high ratings mean low quality.

In the US and UK, we use 'Nielsen ratings' or 'BARB ratings.' 'Audimat' is the direct cultural equivalent for France.

The movie '99 Francs' (based on Frédéric Beigbeder's book) critiques the world of advertising and its obsession with audimat. The song 'La télé' by various artists often mentions the pressure of ratings. The satirical show 'Les Guignols de l'info' frequently mocked TV bosses obsessed with audimat.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Television Industry

Les résultats de l'audimat
La grille des programmes
Le coût du spot publicitaire
La cible commerciale

News / Journalism

Un record historique d'audimat
L'allocution a été suivie par...
Une perte d'audience notable
Le baromètre des médias

Marketing / Advertising

Maximiser l'audimat
Le retour sur investissement
Le profil du téléspectateur
L'audimat consolidé

Cultural Critique

La dérive de l'audimat
La qualité sacrifiée
Le nivellement par le bas
La télé-poubelle

Daily Conversation

Cette série marche bien
Tout le monde regarde ça
C'est un gros succès
L'audimat a chuté

Conversation Starters

"Penses-tu que l'audimat soit un bon indicateur de la qualité d'une émission ?"

"Quelle émission française a, selon toi, le meilleur audimat en ce moment ?"

"Est-ce que tu penses que la course à l'audimat rend la télévision moins intéressante ?"

"Comment l'audimat influence-t-il les sujets abordés au journal de 20 heures ?"

"Serais-tu prêt à regarder une émission avec un faible audimat si le sujet t'intéresse ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez l'impact de l'audimat sur la culture populaire en France par rapport à votre pays d'origine.

Imaginez que vous êtes un producteur de télévision. Comment réagiriez-vous à une baisse soudaine de votre audimat ?

Analysez la phrase : 'La qualité ne fait pas toujours l'audimat.' Êtes-vous d'accord ?

Racontez une fois où vous avez été surpris par le succès (l'audimat) d'une émission que vous n'aimiez pas.

Quel rôle joue l'audimat dans la survie des chaînes de télévision publiques aujourd'hui ?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, although it started as a brand name, it is now a common noun and should not be capitalized unless it starts a sentence.

Technically no. For radio, the term is 'audience radio' or 'taux d'écoute.' 'Audimat' is specifically linked to the TV measurement system.

No, the 't' is pronounced. It sounds like 'mat' in English. This is an exception to the usual rule where final 't's are silent.

Audimat is the general term for ratings. 'Part d'audience' (PDA) is the specific percentage of people watching a channel compared to everyone watching TV at that time.

The official organization is Médiamétrie. They use a panel of households equipped with 'audimètres' (meters).

Yes, 'les audimats,' but it is rarely used in the plural because it usually refers to a singular statistical concept.

It is neutral. It is used in newspapers and news reports, but in very high-level academic writing, 'mesure d'audience' might be preferred.

Nowadays, Médiamétrie includes 'replay' in their 'audimat consolidé,' but it traditionally refers to live broadcast TV.

It follows the gender of the suffix '-at' or the original brand name 'L'Audimat,' which was masculine.

It is primarily used in France. In Quebec, they use 'cote d'écoute,' and in Belgium or Switzerland, they might use 'audience' or 'taux d'audience' more often.