Live from Paris 2024: France Télévisions opts for iconic views over virtual sets
Frederic Gaillard Gilles Silard
Paris 2024 began with the Opening Ceremony and a parade along the Seine that showcased many of the city’s most well-known landmarks, and has continued with many sporting events taking place in front of the city’s iconic buildings.
For France Télévisions head of production in charge of Olympics and Paralympics Games Frédéric Gaillard and director of production for sport Gilles Silard, it was important for the broadcaster to also showcase the best of the city in their presentation, favouring real-world settings over virtual backdrops for this Olympics, believing that the authenticity of iconic Parisian landmarks adds value to the viewing experience.
“During the last Olympic Games, we were more innovative in the way we used virtual studios,” said Silard.
“But we were thinking that here in Paris, just as spectators want to see the real places around the city, we wanted to do the same. And so, we decided this time we didn’t want to have any virtual studios – we want to show the monuments and we want to show we are here in Paris.
“That is why Fred chose the terrace in front of the Eiffel Tower, because it was the place to be, because it’s a very iconic place. And with a little smile, I said that for the first time NBC was below us!”
France Télévisions is providing viewers in France with coverage spread across three channels. One primarily offers France-centred coverage, while another showcases team sports like football and volleyball. The third channel caters to younger audiences, featuring emerging sports such as skateboarding, breaking and sport climbing. It is also the largest offering of 4K by the broadcaster, which has built on previous trials and is offering 4K to the “totality” of France for the first time, said Gaillard.
The broadcaster has set up a major hub on the seventh floor of its building in Paris, which integrates live feeds from the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) and other Olympic venues. As Paris 2024 is a ‘home fixture’ for France Televisions, the broadcaster has a small presence at the IBC.
The teams covering Paris 2024 for France Télévisions include 46 reporting teams of a journalist and camera operator plus 15 mixed-zone teams, in addition to approximately 50 presenters and host and 60 pundits.
When asked what the biggest challenge is, Gaillard says it’s the coordination of effort to support the range of channels, coordination of multiple live broadcasts and the management of content across three channels.
“We have all the venues and the signals, but the challenge is to make three live programmes,” said Gaillard.
“And the other challenge is so many people in in France want to do something around the Olympics, and OBS and Paris 2024 prefer one person to deal with so all the demands from all the channels and regional news, everything is coming to us. So, we have so many people that we have to manage and coordinate.”