The 8 p.m. schedule, synonymous with good times and gatherings for the French

The book “France at 8 p.m. Or time to be together”, published by Editions de l’Aube, paints a portrait of the habits of the French at the sacred hour of 8 p.m.

Researchers, pollsters, and even restaurant chefs paint a picture of France today when the little hand of the clock stops on eight, in a book, entitled France at 8 p.m. Or time to be togetherpublished by Editions de l’Aube, published Friday September 13. When the sun has long since set in winter or when it plays overtime in summer, the 8 p.m. schedule punctuates the end of the French day.

Since the appearance of mass media, and the appearance of two-round universal suffrage, this schedule is synonymous with the moment when the French settle down and where they find themselves. Whether to start or finish eating, watch the lottery, check the weather or the electoral results on polling days, the 8 p.m. schedule smells of “good times” and the “time before”.

The book discusses the different behaviors of the French at this time of day over time. Contrary to popular belief, things have not changed that much. The news is no longer the great mass it once was, but 44% of French people still say they watch at least one news. However, they browse more, skip around, go elsewhere to see what’s happening on another channel, then come back.

Others start scrolling on TikTok and Instagram from 8 p.m., but scrolling has not replaced the evening film, which is still watched, but again differently, that is to say, on a delayed basis, in replay or several times.

After 8 p.m., at the time when the French get under the covers, 10:44 p.m., on average, here too things have changed a little, since as with the evening film, the clinches are experienced more on the margins, with the decorrelation of sexuality and conjugality.

What emerges from the book is that the 8 p.m. schedule is ultimately, like the French today, with their more fluid, more hybrid and less fixed identities, but still driven by the desire to ‘to be together. A France not in decomposition, but in recomposition.