Clement DoucetNovember 18, 2024
Journalist and presenter of the Multiplex at CANAL+, Éric Besnard reveals the secrets of this program which spans the ages. This article is the third in the “40 years of sports at CANAL+” series.
It's been almost 20 seasons since the faithful little music of the Multiplex has left him. Host of the last days of the championship for CANAL+, Éric Besnard first juggled between the lawns of France. But today, his voice roams the European stadiums of the Champions League.
The one who also presents “Jour de Football” looks back on the third decade of the channel, from 2004 to 2014, marked by Multiplexes loaded with twists and turns which inevitably echo the present.
Before being the voice of the Multiplex or the face of “Jour de Football”, CANAL+ subscribers discover you both on the courts and in the stadiums.
“It’s coming back up!” When I arrived in 1990, Charles Biétry was looking for someone to comment on both the NBA, with George Eddy, and football. These are my two sports so it was absolutely perfect. I commentated five NBA finals, the Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics, several All Star Games… It was fantastic. »
But it was in the mid-2000s that you discovered a role that you continue to play today, that of hosting the Multiplex.
“It was initially Thierry Gilardi who hosted the Multiplex. I took over when he left for TF1 (in 2004, editor's note), and it still continues today!
“The promise of the Multiplex is to have a match with around 25 goals and 30 chances”
At the beginning there were even four per season: one for the first day, one to award the title of autumn champion before Christmas, and two during the last two days of the championship. »
You are, in a way, the conductor of this Multiplex, but how many people are mobilized on each of them?
“The Multiplex of that time required 500 people spread across France. All commentary stations were doubled, which meant two commentators to cover the match in full and two others to speak in the Multiplex. With technical developments, the current format involves a smaller workforce but it remains significant. »
“These are evenings when the management is in total turmoil, with around twenty people talking in all directions. And I, on set, am in contact with all the commentators and especially with the watcher, who watches all the matches and presses a button when something happens. »
What is the secret of this Multiplex, this format which has found its audience throughout the ages?
“The promise of the Multiplex is to have a match with around 25 goals and 30 chances, which obviously never happens anywhere else in football.
It generates adrenaline because there is suspense, whatever happens! The fan would like us to never leave his team… and finally he jumps as soon as the little music sounds. »
This little music plays a major role… But how did it get there?
“It was Jérôme Revon, director of the show at the time, who found it on the internet. And what many people don't know is that this music is actually a nursery rhyme that everyone knows. It's like “Pippin's apple and api's apple” in accelerated fashion, I didn't realize it right away but it works incredibly well.
“It was even my phone ringtone at one point! »
I was a little skeptical at first, but then I adopted it… It was even my phone ringtone at one point!
We already thought about modernizing it, but we ultimately kept it because it was the marker that everyone identified. »
In 20 years of Multiplex, which one has had the most impact on you?
“It’s obviously the one at the end of the 2007/2008 Ligue 1 season, when we had 43 goals in one evening, a record! The music sounded every two minutes, we even had four goals at the same time… A fantastic evening.
And it's not only amazing for the goals, but also for the storyline. On the verge of relegation, Paris SG had to win at Sochaux so as not to be dependent on other results… But there was still 1-1 10 minutes from the final whistle. And it was finally Amara Diané (83rd, 1-2) who delivered all the supporters by scoring the winning goal, destiny has little to do with it”
“The child in me was completely destroyed”
And on a personal level?
“It’s no secret, but I’m a supporter of Stade Rennais. And in 2007, in the 90th minute of the Multiplex, Rennes leads against Lille (1-0) and is on the way to finishing third. This podium allowed the club to play in the Champions League play-offs for the first time in its history, I was like crazy on the board!
Then we play added time and there… Nicolas Fauvergue scores for LOSC (1-1, 90th+3) and shatters our dreams. Bearing it, the child in me was completely destroyed. I continued to host the show with enthusiasm but I couldn't believe it. »
This year 2024 marks the return of the Multiplex on CANAL+, but this time in the Champions League. Does juggling between the 36 best teams in Europe have a special flavor?
“Totally, and for two reasons. Firstly because we have the best clubs in Europe and that two evenings in a row: Tuesdays and Wednesdays of the Champions League. It gives us crazy emotions every week.”
Read also: Éric Bayle: “The ambition was to treat rugby like football” – 40 years of sports at CANAL+
“And then there is also this new formula which gives importance to each match. All posters are relevant until the last second, since the fate of the team you support depends on all the other clubs. The ranking moves constantly from 1st to 36th place, it's constant adrenaline! »
How do you view the Multiplex of the 8th day of the regular season (January 29 at 9 p.m.), during which 18 matches will be held simultaneously?
“We risk having an evening with 60 goals… The record will be broken. It will be the largest Multiplex in history, crazy!
“Large clubs like PSG will have to wait until the evening of this last day to find out if they continue in the competition”
There will be countless surprises, especially since the four French clubs can hope to qualify. Big clubs like PSG will have to wait until the evening of this last day to find out if they continue in the competition, an unbearable suspense. »
You are also presenter of “Jour de Foot” (Monday to Friday at 8:20 p.m. on CANAL+ FOOT). How would you describe this historic show from the channel?
“It’s the show that embodies the daily life of the CANAL+ football editorial team, the work of all journalists. So we have to be informative, engage in debates, and surf the current news.
Like the channel, “Jour de Foot” has changed its face since its creation in 1992. We have the best editorial staff in existence and CANAL+ has been the most beautiful house in the world for 40 years, I think about it every day , this is my family! »
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