Inside the workflow at the Monaco Grand Prix

Out of the 19 races that make up the Formula One season, Monaco is in a class of its own. In fact, in addition to its magnificent city street circuit proposed by the Principality, it is also the only race that the Formula One Management does not produce entirely for international broadcasting.

Unlike the other 18 Grand Prix races, the FOM contents itsef with the handling of the 50 or so on- board cameras, the TV graphics and the filming of the grandstands. As a matter of fact, it is the Automobile Club of Monaco which organises the event every year and produces the footage of the racing circuit.

Under its direction, 24 cameras are placed around the circuit. An additional 10 slow motion cameras (connected to the EVS system for live slow motion production) are situated at key strategic positions on the track particularly in areas where it is possible to overtake. In the grandstands about ten cameras using HF are deployed in a more traditional manner.

A Euro Media OB truck (the XXL1) is used to produce the international feed whereas the XL3 OB truck is deployed to produce a private feed intended for the USA. The producer François Lanaud is at the helm of the production of the international feed.

For its part, Canal +, which obtained the Formula One broadcasting rights last February, employs considerable means to showcase the event on the various television stations belonging to the group.

For the races taking place outside of Europe, no less than four tons of material, which includes flight-cases, is used. In Monaco, Canal + will hire a mobile unit from AMPVISUAL TV for its own private feed. The Formula One programme, shot on location, will be exceptionally unencrypted and aired live from 6 to 7 pm each day of the Grand Prix.

François-Charles Bideaux, sports production director for the channel, explains: “For its own feed, the scrambled channel deploys five additional cameras with three HF systems, one Multicam LSM and two Avid media stations. For the Monaco race, as well as for the other races of the season, a team of at least 11 people are specifically assigned to work on the editorial content of the Canal + programming.”

Today, Canal + Sports Management considers itself part of the small, very exclusive (and non-official) club of five or six broadcasters most involved in broadcasting the Grand Prix. Like Sky Sports, we like to think in France.