2024-08-25 16:12:00
The 2024/2025 back-to-school season for major radio stations starts this Monday, August 26. Hosts, shows… What awaits you on your favorite station? Here are the main novelties of the new season.
It’s back-to-school day at the radio. Major radio stations are kicking off a new season this Monday, August 26, 2024. The program schedules from last season have generally been renewed, but each station will make slight modifications or more significant changes. Let’s review each radio station, starting with the generalist stations followed by the music stations.
France Inter
The generalist radio of Radio France is the leader in radio audiences and intends to stay that way. Nicolas Demorand and Léa Salamé will continue to host the morning show. Two programs have been removed from the schedule compared to the 2023/2024 season: “Jusqu’ici tout va bien” in the afternoon with Marine Baousson and Marie Misset, and “Le grand dimanche soir” with Charline Vanhoenacker. Among the new offerings: Mathieu Noël’s “Zoom zoom zen” gains an hour, now airing from 4 PM to 6 PM. Charline Vanhoenacker will no longer have a show but will provide a segment in the morning.
RTL
RTL listeners will need to adopt new listening habits. Yves Calvi is replaced by Thomas Sotto, alongside Amandine Bégot, for the morning show, which gains an hour of broadcasting from 7 AM to 10 AM. Consequently, “Ça peut vous arriver” with Julien Courbet loses an hour daily, now airing from 10 AM to 12 PM. Lorànt Deutsch’s history show, “Entrez dans l’histoire”, will air daily from 3 PM to 3:30 PM, just before “Les grosses têtes”. Yves Calvi will host “RTL Soir” at 6 PM and “On refait le monde” at 7 PM, alongside Agnès Bonfillon. At 8 PM, Flavie Flament is replaced by “Héros”, hosted by Faustine Bollaert, who joins RTL.
RMC
RMC has decided to refresh its schedule from last season. The station’s flagship programs are all returning (“Apolline Matin”, “Les grandes gueules”, “Estelle Midi”, “Super Moscato show”, “Rothen s’enflamme”, etc.). A small novelty is the introduction of a segment by Pierre-Antoine Damecour in “Estelle Midi”, Estelle Denis’s midday show.
Europe 1
No changes in the morning as Dimitri Pavlenko continues to host “Europe 1 Matin” from 7 AM to 9 AM. Pascal Praud returns at 11 AM for “Pascal Praud et vous”, Christophe Hondelatte is back at 2 PM, and Stéphane Bern at 3 PM. The novelty is the arrival of Cyril Hanouna for a daily show. “On marche sur la tête” will be broadcast every day from 4 PM to 6 PM. Sophie Davant will be relegated to the weekend for “Les histoires d’amour extraordinaires” at 4 PM. Another new arrival from C8, journalist Pascale de La Tour du Pin will host “Europe 1 Soir week-end” at 7 PM.
Sud Radio
There are changes in the morning at Sud Radio. Jean-Jacques Bourdin, 75, will take over from 7 AM to 9 AM while continuing the political interview at 8:30 AM starting September 2. He replaces journalist Patrick Roger, who will lead a new show from 9 AM to 10 AM. Jean-Jacques Bourdin has been working at Sud Radio for two years.
NRJ
NRJ continues with Manu Lévy in the morning for “Manu dans le 6-10” and Double F for the rest of the morning. In the afternoon, Louis retains the 3 PM to 7 PM slot. He had stepped in for Cauet in November 2023 after allegations of sexual assault. The main new feature of the schedule is the return of a spoken show in the evening. “Le Super Show NRJ” will be hosted by Louis, Charly Gourgues, and Bichette from 10 PM to midnight from Monday to Thursday.
Skyrock
Skyrock remains faithful to rap and R’n’B and its program schedule. Difool continues to host “Le morning de Difool” and will return in the evening at 9 PM for open mic until midnight. His 28th radio season! In the evening at 8 PM, “Planète rap” is back.
Fun Radio
A new radio season for Bruno, surrounded by Christina, Pino, Karina, and Maurine between 6 AM and 10 AM. The afternoon novelty is “La team Fun Radio” from 4 PM to 8 PM with JB, Clément, Justine, Valentin, and Julien Tellouck. Music, humor, and games with a newcomer: Clément Lanoue, who hosted the morning show on Europe 2 last season. Cartman’s evening show, which had been on the air for three seasons, has been removed from the schedule to make way for music in “L’after Fun Radio”.
Europe 2
Following Clément Lanoue’s departure to Fun Radio, Europe 2 has recruited TV host Benjamin Castaldi for its morning show. He will be accompanied by Fabien Delettres and Marie Solis for “Casta réveille la France”. Benjamin Castaldi had previously hosted radio morning shows on RTL2.
Nostalgie
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, especially when it attracts listeners. In the morning, Philippe and Sandy are back between 6 AM and 9 AM. André Micheau returns in the morning, and Bruno Gilbert in the afternoon with all the music from the 80s.
RTL2
The main programs of RTL2 are renewed: “Le double expresso RTL2” in the morning from 6 AM to 9 AM, “Le drive RTL2” with Eric Jean-Jean and Marjorie Hache from 4 PM to 7 PM, and Francis Zegut in the evening on “RTL2 pop-rock station”.
RFM
Stability is key at RFM with the continuation of Albert Spano and Caroline Ithurbide for the morning show, Vincent Richard for the morning, and “16-20 RFM” with Pat Angeli. On weekends, Bertrand Montiel returns for his celebrity interviews from 12 PM to 1 PM.
Chérie FM
At Chérie FM, there are no major changes to report for this new 2024/2025 season. “Le réveil Chérie” remains hosted by Alexandre Devoise and Tiffany Bonvoisin. Didier Bonicel returns in the late afternoon, and Caroline Alexy in the evening.
And what about our regional radios in Occitanie?
Totem announces “new features in continuity”. “Le réveil Totem” will be hosted by Maxime Dumartin and Marie from 5 AM to 9 AM. In the late afternoon, the duo Arnaud-Edusha will present “Bonjour, bonsoir” from 4 PM to 8 PM. The radio will start its season on September 2.
France Bleu Occitanie is launching a new game, “Malin comme un toulousain”, from 11 AM to 12 PM, Monday to Friday starting this Monday, August 26. The cleverest participants who complete challenges with host Sébastien Brethenou can win gift cards up to 150 euros. There will no longer be a sports show from 6 PM to 7 PM except on Mondays. The national antenna of France Bleu welcomes TV host Valérie Damidot for a game from 12 PM to 1 PM.
Future Trends in Radio Programming for 2024/2025
The commencement of the 2024/2025 radio season signals a dynamic shift in programming and presenter lineups across major stations. With each network adapting to listener preferences and emerging trends, there are key directions we can anticipate in the future of radio broadcasting.
Emphasis on Live and Interactive Content
Listeners increasingly demand real-time engagement with their favorite personalities. Stations like RTL and Fun Radio are incorporating live segments and interactive shows that encourage audience participation. This trend is likely to expand, with more radio hosts leveraging social media to foster community interaction during live broadcasts.
Diverse Content Formats
We observe a diversification in content types, with music stations like NRJ and Fun Radio blending traditional music programming with talk segments and entertainment shows. This crossover not only retains existing listeners but attracts new demographics seeking varied listening experiences. Expect to see more stations experiment with hybrid formats in the coming seasons.
Influence of Digital Platforms
The integration of digital platforms into traditional radio broadcasting is becoming more prevalent. Stations such as Europe 1 are exploring podcasting and on-demand content, catering to the on-the-go listener. This trend is set to grow, with radio networks enhancing their digital presence to compete in an ever-evolving media landscape.
Focus on Niche Audiences
As competition intensifies, radio stations are honing in on niche markets. We see networks like Skyrock continuing to cater to specific genres such as rap and R’n’B, while others focus on targeted demographics, such as nostalgic music lovers on Nostalgie. This specialization allows stations to build loyal listener bases that feel personally connected to the content they consume.
Adapting to Changing Audiences
The landscape of radio audiences is shifting, influenced by younger generations who favor quick, engaging content over traditional formats. In response, stations such as RMC are introducing shorter segments and more dynamic programming schedules. This evolution will likely continue, as radio adapts to meet the fast-paced consumption habits of new listeners.
Innovative Partnerships and Collaborations
Collaborations with well-known personalities and influencers are anticipated to grow. The inclusion of figures like Cyril Hanouna on Europe 1 illustrates the desire for cross-platform appeal. This trend may lead to unique collaborations that blend radio, television, and online content, further blurring the lines between different media formats.