After a not very sporty year 2020, the summer of 2021 promises to be busy for France Télévisions.
The audiovisual group detailed, this Wednesday, its organization for three major sporting events to come: Roland-Garros, the Tour de France and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A sequence under the sign of "
rebirth
", in the eyes of Delphine Ernotte, President of France Télévisions.
The first meeting, that of tennis fans, will start on May 30. On the occasion of Roland-Garros, 126 hours of air will be devoted to matches, broadcast from 11 a.m. on the group's channels. Viewers will have access to a selection of matches, while France.tv digital viewers will be able to choose. Nearly 900 hours of content will be offered online, including presets.
The public service is not, however, the only broadcaster of the competition.
Amazon Prime Video got into the broadcasting rights business this year, and bought a lot from the tennis federation.
They hold, for three years, the exclusivity of ten night sessions.
Laurent-Éric Le Lay, Sports Director of France Télévisions remains perplexed on the evolution of the relationship between the two broadcasters: "
If Amazon wants to make a money contest with us, we cannot win
".
Last March, the streaming service remained elusive when it came to the evolution of its investments in the sector.
Read also: Amazon will play against France Télévisions at Roland-Garros between 2021 and 2023
After tennis, second stage, the Tour de France.
This year it will find a more classic configuration.
But, pandemic obliges, its television coverage will remain disturbed.
For the second year in a row, comments from the Tour and the Vélo club analysis program will be broadcast from the capital.
A formula that has not failed the fans.
Despite its lag during the 2020 edition, nearly 40 million viewers followed the competition.
It will still be necessary to expect a more "
classic
" race, according to the cyclist and consultant of France Televisions Thomas Voeckler.
Almost 120 hours will be devoted to the Tour from June 26 to July 18.
Over 700 hours dedicated to the Tokyo Games
Just five days after the end of the Tour de France, and until August 8, spectators will be able to enjoy the Tokyo Olympic Games.
In the event that the event remains authorized, a real ballet will be played on the three public channels.
“
Our entire antenna will be dedicated to the Olympics, during and around the games,
” explains Stéphane Sitbon-Gomez, director of antennas and programs.
The live antenna will be held continuously from 00h to 16h between France 2 and France 3, for matches broadcasts, analyzes and player feedback.
The recently saved France 4 will be assigned to team sports.
By adding all the formats, more than 700 hours of air will be devoted to the Games, just for television.
If we add the content available online, the bar reaches 3,600 hours.
The management of the group wants the coverage of the event to go beyond the simple sporting fact.
They want their content to reflect the stories of the athletes.
On July 22, before the opening of the Games, a documentary retracing the judoka preparation of triple medalist Teddy Riner will be shown in prime time on France 2.
France Télévisions will extend the Olympic experience from August 24, for the Paralympic Games.
The program schedule will this time be more suited to Europeans, with programs scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At the start of the evening, a daily magazine will also be offered on France 3 at 8:40 p.m.
This accumulation of very popular events is the joy of the group's advertising management, without leading to a balance. Advertising space that pays big, but obviously "
not to the point of offsetting the cost of acquisitions
", deplores Laurent-Éric Le Lay.
