Le Tour commence ici
France: France Télévisions has been detailing the technical resources that will be poured into producing the international signal delivery covering the most famous cycling road race of them all, The Tour de France.
France Télévisions, the host broadcaster of the Tour de France will provide the international signal for the cycling race in High Definition and makes an all-out effort to cover this event with a team of almost 300 people (administrative, technical and journalists). Most of the staff and technical means are provided by the various production centers of the French national broadcaster situated both in Paris and other areas. An OB truck from the production division in Lille will produce the international signal of the race for foreign television channels, as well as the national private signal for France2/France3.
This truck equipped with 10 HD cameras, including a slow motion camera, plus three cameras for the France Télévisions private signal, will be present at each stage finish in order to ensure coverage of the last kilometre of the race and the podium.
Another OB truck will be at the intermediate point for the race-against-the-clock trials. Moreover, six additional cameras (two mounted on a crane) will be positioned at the finish line for the arrival on the Champs Elysées.
A third OB truck will produce all the broadcasts for France2 and France3.
The facilities provider, Euromedia will supply the RF equipment consisting mainly of five HD camera systems on motorcycles, two sound motorcycles, two Wescam HD helicopters, two relay aircraft and two relay helicopters. Embedded cameras inside several sports directors’ vehicles will complete the equipment.
For every stage of the race dedicated technical means will reassemble all the different services on offer to foreign television channels in one single place. The Nodal point (for the distribution of signals) will be situated close to the finish line, allowing TV crews and journalists to send their reports while remaining near the action.
This technical area which will be the transmission point for all the footage filmed by the different TV crews will house the Vidéothèque des Sports facilities as well and constitute the link for the exchange of live images between the trucks and editing.
Also, a truck equipped with five Avid HD production consoles in network mode and two mixing areas will enable all the France Télévisions journalists to have the maximum amount of image sources in realtime, at their disposal.
A SNG vehicle will cover the stage TV studio sets from the roadside. Finally, a France Télévisions mobile video system unit will not only produce the Village Départ show live for France3 but also the departures of the different stages for the international signal.
Production of this event will be under the direction of Jean-Maurice Ooghe. In the rôle of consultant, Ronan Pensec provided assistance on technical issues.