REPORT | Audience of Moldova 1 TV up by 21.3% in 2025; Moldova 2 TV also on the rise
In 2025, the audience for public television in the Republic of Moldova increased by 21.3% compared to the previous year. Moldova 2 TV experienced a notable viewership revival starting in the third quarter of this year. Meanwhile, Moldova 1 TV maintained its position among the top three television channels. Notably, "Mesager" remains the most-watched news bulletin in the Republic of Moldova. This information was shared by Andrei Zapșa, the deputy general director of the "Teleradio-Moldova" Company, during the recent meeting of the Supervisory and Development Council (SDC) of the institution.
According to a report presented by Andrei Zapșa, based on data from TV MR MLD, which utilizes the "peoplemeter" system for audience measurement, significant growth was observed in Chișinău (+57.6%) and in the southern region of the Republic of Moldova (+34.7%). The age segments of 30-44 years and 45-59 years also showed remarkable increases of 48.2% and 57%, respectively.
The rural audience remains the dominant group, accounting for 76.9% of viewership, while urban consumption has decreased slightly despite overall growth.
Andrei Zapșa noted, “If in 2024 the crossing of the 4% average market share (SHR) threshold was mainly due to broadcasts of matches in the EURO 2024 European Football Championship, in 2025 we can expect a solid increase in audience data from August to October. This growth will be fueled by new productions and shows launched during that period, as well as expanded coverage and higher editorial standards during the parliamentary elections.”
"Mesager" - The most watched news bulletin in the Republic of Moldova
According to measurements conducted from January to October 2025, Moldova 1 TV ranked third among television stations in the Republic of Moldova, following Cinema 1 and Jurnal TV, with an average market share (SHR) of 3.79%. In the same period in 2024, Moldova 1 TV ranked seventh.
Throughout 2025, the public station demonstrated consistent performance, achieving a maximum SHR of 4.3% and an average market rating (AMR) of 0.65% in October.
The schedule was dominated by news and debate programs.
The show "Mesager," which airs at 9:00 p.m., was the most-watched news program in the country, boasting a SHR of 9.32% and attracting over 71,000 viewers on average per minute.
"News consistently attracts good audiences. Morning news tends to have higher market shares, while evening news draws a larger number of viewers," noted Andrei Zapșa.
Also, in the top of political talk shows, "Buna Seara" (6.34% SHR) on Moldova 1 TV is immediately after "Secretele puterii" from Jurnal TV.
The shows "In context", "Scaner" and "Pe făță" complete the ranking with ratings between 3.4% and 4.7%.
The morning shows performed above the market average, with "Bună dimineața" leading the pack. It achieved a 7.48% market share and attracted 9,050 viewers, outperforming all competitors.
"In general, there are few stations that offer viewers live programs during the morning. Most rely on reruns of various genres, including entertainment, news, and documentaries," stated the deputy general director of the "Teleradio-Moldova" Company, which oversees television operations.
High ratings for electoral debates and new projects
The 2025 election year introduced an innovative format for public debates. According to a report presented at the CSD by the "Teleradio-Moldova" Company, "audience figures place Moldova 1 TV at the top, with the public channel achieving the largest audience in the electoral debates segment."
The program "Electoral Debates" achieved a 5.99% share of total viewing hours (SHR) and an average of 29,444 viewers, making it the leader in its category.
Among the new projects with notable performances are "Verificat" (6.41% SHR, 47,824 Average Minute Reach (AMR)) and "Banii", a weekly economic show, as well as the documentary "Где цветет сакура", which surpassed similar productions in its time slot.
Moldova 2 TV: Strong comeback in the second half of the year
Moldova 2 TV is currently undergoing an "institutional and editorial transformation," focusing on "strengthening its public role, modernizing cultural offerings, and expanding civic and educational content."
After experiencing declines in the first half of the year, the station entered a "clear phase of growth since July 2025," recovering and exceeding the 2024 pace.
Indicators show over a 35% increase in viewership in September and October, with an average of almost 3,000 viewers per minute. This growth can be attributed to new projects, improved editorial selections, and the broadcasting of international miniseries that attracted audiences of over 60,000 viewers, including („Spune-mi cine sunt”, „Profesorul T”, „Hotel Portofino”, „Cuba Libre”).
Moldova 2 TV's main audience consists of 67% viewers aged over 60, and the channel is consolidating its position in rural areas as well as in the central and southern regions.
The TV MR MLD company was selected as the official provider of audience measurement services for the audiovisual market in the Republic of Moldova through a competition organized by the Audiovisual Council.
The company uses the "peoplemeter" system to implement its audience measurement methodology. This system enables the continuous and objective collection of data on viewer consumption behavior.
