The Mediawan group continues to lead in the production of television fiction in France, even as the overall number of hours of fiction produced nationwide has declined, according to the latest ranking from the specialized magazine Écran Total. The ranking, set to be released on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during the La Rochelle Fiction Festival, highlights concerns about a "beginning of a crisis" in French television fiction. Théo Nepipvoda, editor-in-chief of Écran Total, told AFP that while the sector is experiencing a significant drop in orders for the 2025-2026 season, some companies are showing resilience. Mediawan, which owns more than 80 production companies, remains the top producer for the sixth consecutive year, thanks to popular shows like the police comedy Tom et Lola and the series adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo. However, its production volume has dropped slightly to 89 hours and 46 minutes of prime time or streaming fiction, compared to 100 hours in the previous season. The audiovisual fiction industry is under pressure due to reduced funding from its largest contributor, France Télévisions, which cut its budget from 440 to 400 million euros this year. Private networks such as TF1 and M6 are also reducing their orders, partly due to declining advertising revenues. Across the sector, production volumes are down: Banijay, the third-ranked group, produced 45 hours and 4 minutes of fiction this year, down from 46 hours and 46 minutes. The drop is even more severe for JLA, the fourth-ranked producer of Astrid et Raphaëlle and Camping Paradis, which saw its output fall from 60 hours to 37 hours and 40 minutes. Similarly, TM Studios, sixth in the ranking, reduced its production from 32 to 19 hours. The Federation group is an exception, moving up to second place with 81 hours of production, up from 72 the previous year, thanks to shows like B.R.I. Saison 2 and Les Sentinelles on Canal+, and Lucky Luke on Disney+. The La Rochelle Fiction Festival, which runs until Saturday, September 19, will showcase around 45 French and francophone films and series, both in and out of competition. Among the highlights are La Comtesse de Monte-Cristo, starring Audrey Fleurot for TF1; Le Charles, a thriller about the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier for M6 and Prime Video; and La Rumeur, a drama from France Télévisions exploring the assassination of Samuel Paty. The festival provides a platform for industry professionals and audiences to engage with the latest television fiction, reflecting the ongoing challenges and evolving dynamics of the French audiovisual sector.