Temptation Island closes with the highest share of the summer, Pier Silvio Berlusconi and the dedication to Maria De Filippi

Temptation Island concluded its summer run with the highest viewership of the season, marking a triumphant end for the Italian reality show. The final episode aired on Wednesday night, drawing an impressive 4.247 million viewers and securing a 35.5% share. This result surpassed the average audience figures for the entire season, which stood at approximately 3.97 million viewers and a 31.33% share. According to Auditel data, the program, hosted by Filippo Bisciglia, dominated the prime-time slot on July 29, outperforming competitors such as Gifted on Rai 1, which attracted 1.609 million viewers with an 11.5% share, and Chicago PD on Italia 1, which recorded 865,000 viewers with a 6.2% share. Un giorno in pretura on Rai 3 followed in fourth place with 688,000 viewers. The show, produced by Maria De Filippi, also achieved over 700 million views across its official social media platforms. Pier Silvio Berlusconi, CEO of Mediaset, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the final episode, calling it “a great television and social event.” In a statement, he praised De Filippi and her team, emphasizing the significance of the results as evidence that well-crafted programming can maintain public interest. He noted that these achievements reflect the ongoing relevance of generalist television in Italy, reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation and quality content. Berlusconi further highlighted the broader success of Mediaset, stating that the group has seen a continued rise in ratings, achieving record-breaking performance both domestically and internationally. The success of Temptation Island was part of a larger trend of increased viewership for Mediaset during the week following the FIFA World Cup. Between July 20 and 29, the network's channels reached a 42.1% share across all hours, more than nine points higher than Rai, which managed a 32.9% share. The gap widened significantly during prime time, where Mediaset claimed a 45.8% share compared to Rai’s 30.8%. This dominance underscores the growing influence of private broadcasters in Italy’s television landscape, particularly in the absence of major international sporting events. Looking at the year-long performance, Mediaset maintained its lead throughout 2026, including during key events such as Sanremo, the Olympics, and the World Cup. Across the entire period, the network secured a 37.9% share during regular hours and a 39.1% share in prime time, while Rai remained slightly behind with 37.0% in both categories. Other networks, including Warner Bros Discovery and Sky, lagged further behind, recording around 8% in the 24-hour share category. The success of Temptation Island has sparked renewed interest in the show, with online searches increasing by over 1,000% in the days leading up to the finale. Fans have been particularly drawn to certain contestants, with Diamante emerging as the most searched name, while Danilo has been associated with viral moments. Meanwhile, discussions surrounding the personal lives of participants continue to generate buzz, with some fans speculating on potential relationships based on on-screen interactions. Despite the high-profile nature of the show, there have been reports of emotional tolls among some contestants, with one former participant, Alessandro Medici, passing away shortly after the show ended. His death has prompted calls for greater awareness of mental health issues related to reality TV participation. Additionally, some experts have suggested using Temptation Island as a platform to educate young audiences about recognizing toxic relationships, highlighting the show’s potential impact beyond entertainment.