Mediapro takes T l foot to the top of football broadcasting in France By Fabrice Marinoni, French Correspondent
Monday, October 5, 2020 - 13:16
Print This Story
Mediapro manages editorial content for T l foot inhouse and also produces and broadcasts the matches
T l foot, the new Mediapro and TF1 sports channel showcasing Ligue 1 and some European Championship matches in France, launched in August this year. Built from scratch in just two months, Mediapro is suitably proud of its achievement.
SVG Europe recently caught up with Cyril Mar ot, head of production at Mediapro, to find out how the pay-TV channel was created.
Unusual broadcaster
T l foot broadcasts 80% of Ligue 1 matches as well as eight Ligue 2 weekly matches. Following an agreement with the RMC Sport channel (which holds the Champions League rights for France,) it also broadcasts certain European Championship matches.
It is a somewhat unusual broadcaster in France as the Chinese-Spanish group, Mediapro, which runs the channel in partnership with French commercial broadcaster TF1, not only manages editorial content inhouse but also produces and broadcasts the matches.
Located at the heart of the French broadcasting hotspot in La Plaine Saint Denis near Paris, T l foot had very little time to design and build its facilities. We designed and assembled all the technical production means in just two months, which is a record for a media implementation of this magnitude, claims Mar ot.
The premises include six Avid post-production editing rooms as well as an Adobe After Effects room and a Protools mixing room. However, it is the two studios of 100 and 300 square metres each (able to host the public when the COVID-19 pandemic allows,) that form the backbone of the channel.
These studios are the location for the three daily shows that are shot and produced daily for T l foot, and are also used for pre and post-match footage.
T l foot's Anne Laure presents
Big ambitions
For now our production control room consists of a Grass Valley Kahuna mixer for the two studios, but eventually we will have one for each space. The big set has 10 cameras, two remote, and also a camera crane. We still prefer using camera operators to shoot footage, continues Mar ot.
The two studio sets are physical rather than virtual. Comments J r me Revon, a producer of the studio programmes and consultant for the channel who previously worked for Canal+ at the helm of its football match productions: We can easily differentiate the set designs of our various shows. To do so, we use a maximum number of screens captured by the cameras and we obtain a large range of colours with LED lighting.
We also use 3D augmented reality widely for statistics and other written data that we display interactively thanks to the camera rig cranes on both sets.
In the near future, holograms will be integrated into T l foot programmes. The channel's hispanic heritage is reflected in the design of the studio sets by Spanish designers and the use of holograms which is a popular trend with Spanish viewers.
The idea is to place a player who has been interviewed on the field in front of a green screen that can be inserted directly on set in 3D, beside the experts and guests in the studio.
T l foot's broadcast playout facility is based in Barcelona, the home city of Mediapro
Spanish model
For the broadcasting of matches, Mediapro OB units are installed around the relevant stadiums, replacing those of French service provider units belonging to AMP Visual TV and Euromedia.
Altogether, around 10 of the group's OB units cover the matches, with two 4K HDR production units deployed for the Ligue 1 matches. For other matches, the number of cameras and their positions remain unchanged according to the strict COVID-19 health and safety specifications laid out by the Professional Football League.
We have nevertheless installed cablecams that will remain in place in the Paris, Lyon, Lille and Marseille stadiums, notes Revon.
Meanwhile, for club-specific programmes, local video journalists using Aviwest equipment are able to send their live interviews and stories over 4G.
T l foot's broadcast playout facility is based in Barcelona, the home city of Mediapro. It is a traditional master control room which interacts closely with the facilities in the Paris area.
Says Mar ot: The dark fibre link between la Plaine Saint-Denis and Barcelona is managed by Overon, a subsidiary of Mediapro. All the feeds of the matches arrive simultaneously at the channel and in Barcelona.
What's more we benefit from a perfectly coordinated effort between the servers on both sides, with a workflow that ensures fast and smooth editing of the highlights of each match, adds Mar ot.
Although remote production for football is increasingly prevalent in Spain, it is not yet the case in France. However, new developments are being looked at that could see graphics for certain matches as well as LSM operators pooled and consolidated.
While T l foot is still in its infancy, it is clear that it Mediapro is going to make this channel a success.
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
Mediapro takes T l foot to the top of football broadcasting in France By Fabrice Marinoni, French Correspondent 
