French television broadcasters TF1 and Gulli are expanding their live animated series as young audiences flock to scheduled morning broadcasts despite competition from streaming platforms.
Major commercial networks across France are scheduling fresh cartoon launches throughout the autumn season, demonstrating that traditional linear broadcasting remains a dominant force for children and families. The new rollout includes Louca, an adaptation of the popular comic book by Bruno Dequier, and the seventh season of Miraculous on TF1. Meanwhile, rival youth channel Gulli, operated by Groupe M6, has introduced Dragon Ball Daima to national television alongside Mortelle Adele, which premieres on 14 November.
Industry figures show that young viewers remain deeply attached to traditional broadcast television. Across France in 2025, 75 percent of children between the ages of 4 and 14 watched live television. Among children aged between 7 and 10, that proportion reached 80 percent during the same year. The enduring trend echoes the title of the long-running French television programme Les enfants de la tele, showing that direct broadcasting still commands the attention of younger generations.
Audience numbers across age groups
Broadcasters are already recording strong audience figures from the latest cartoon launches. The seventh season of Miraculous, broadcast every Sunday at 8:35 am on TF1, captured an average 26 percent audience share among viewers aged 4 to 10 on its debut Sunday. That performance put TF1 comfortably ahead of rival channels in the age category.
Yann Labasque, the director of youth programmes at TF1 Group, welcomed the figures. He explained that the French production brought children aged between 6 and 10 together in front of the screen while also attracting older audiences. Viewing figures were particularly high among teenagers aged 11 to 14 and young adults aged 15 to 24. At the same time, the Miraculous premiere performed strongly among purchasing decision-makers aged 50 and above, a key commercial demographic for advertisers.
TF1, France's largest private television network, has long relied on its morning children's slot, TFOU, which broadcasts across both TF1 and sister digital terrestrial channel TFX. Miraculous, created in France by Thomas Astruc and produced by Zagtoon with Method Animation, has grown into an international franchise, but its performance on domestic linear television remains a cornerstone of the network's weekend strategy.
Daily morning routines and safety checks
Network executives argue that scheduled television offers stability that digital on-demand services cannot match. Labasque stated that linear television represented a reassuring regular appointment that held genuine value for young audiences. By providing programmes at fixed times, scheduled broadcasting gives parents a dependable framework to structure their family routines.
Parents confirm that morning broadcast times play an active role in household management. Sophie, a mother of two children, explained to 20 Minutes that morning cartoons governed the timing of family breakfasts and determined when children prepared to leave for school.
To ensure content remains appropriate, broadcasters subject their morning schedules to strict editorial oversight. On TFOU, all programmes undergo review by a qualified psychologist before broadcast. Artistic advisers also work throughout the year to verify that storylines and dialogue match the maturity, comprehension, and emotional sensitivity of young viewers. Network teams pay close attention to the pacing and duration of every episode to keep them suitable for children.
Labasque explained that early morning schedules are organised around children's waking habits. Because the youngest children generally wake up earlier, the early morning hours feature programmes designed specifically for them. The lineup then transitions into content suitable for older children as the morning progresses. On weekdays, episode lengths are chosen specifically to fit within the limited time available before children leave home for school.
Family viewing and shared rituals
Linear television also creates shared family occasions, especially during colder months. Groupe M6 youth channel Gulli, which broadcasts free to air on channel 12 of the French digital terrestrial network TNT, launched Dragon Ball Daima in early November with a weekly slot on Tuesdays at 9:15 am, alongside regular Wednesday morning airings at 9:15 am.
Julien Figue, deputy director of the youth division at M6, observed that autumn brings colder temperatures and earlier darkness. He said this change in season encourages children to resume established television habits, bringing families back together under blankets on days when school is not in session. In France, primary school schedules traditionally leave Wednesday mornings free of classes, making midweek slots a prime occasion for shared viewing.
Figue stated that linear television provides a structured environment that encourages family co-viewing around programmes that satisfy everyone. He noted that Wednesday mornings at 9:15 am quickly become a household ritual where children announce that Dragon Ball is on Gulli. In an entertainment landscape where screens compete for attention from every direction, he said scheduled television simplifies choices and creates a shared event that streaming platforms fail to replicate.
Viewers also report that scheduled broadcasts help bridge generational gaps. Mathieu, who shared his passion for the Dragon Ball universe with 20 Minutes, praised linear television for allowing him to enjoy animated series with his young son Lucas, most often during morning broadcasts.
Upcoming launches and editorial discovery
Gulli is expanding its schedule further with the arrival of Mortelle Adele, adapted from the best-selling French comic book series created by Antoine Dole and illustrated by Diane Le Feyer, which has sold 30 million copies. The new animated adaptation premieres on Gulli on Saturday 14 November at 9:45 am, featuring 78 episodes that run for seven minutes each.
Beyond providing structure, linear television acts as an alternative showcase for animation that began online. Dragon Ball Daima, which initially streamed on YouTube, has found a second home on digital terrestrial channel 12. Figue pointed out that broadcasting the series on linear television introduces Dragon Ball to a new generation while gathering parents around characters they already loved during their own childhoods.
Broadcasters see this curatorial role as their main advantage over digital subscription platforms, even though streaming remains vital for groups like TF1 and M6. Figue noted that linear programming exposes children to shows they would not search for on their own. While recommendation algorithms tend to direct viewers toward content similar to what they have already watched, an editorial team can open doors to completely new creative worlds.
