France Télévisions is on the verge of succeeding in its challenge, that of making the journey of the Olympic flame into an event in its own right, since its arrival on board the Belem on May 8 in Marseille until the opening of the Games on July 26 in Paris. According to the group’s figures, provided on Tuesday May 21, 1.2 million unique visitors watched, between May 8 and 19, France.tv Paris 2024, the digital channel launched specially on the france.tv platform and which broadcasts the relay live and in full.
These are also videos viewed 17.9 million times on social networks and on france.tv. Like those showing Artus meeting Sofian, one of the actors in his film A little something extra, to carry the flame to Montpellier; or that of cycling champion Bernard Hinault, at the top of the Pic du Midi. The audience record, however, goes back to the Toulouse stage, with 1.7 million views when Antoine Dupont, rugby international and scrum half at Stade Toulouse, lit the cauldron.
On May 8, for the arrival of the flame on French soil, some 25.3 million spectators were counted between 6:45 a.m. and 11:45 p.m., the time of the end of the Soprano and Alonzo concert, on France 2, France 3, France 3 PACA and France.tv PARIS2024, with a peak of 4.7 million spectators for the lighting of the cauldron by the rapper Jul.
“An unprecedented effort”
While Eurosport Discovery is the official paying distributor of the Games – but not of the Paralympic Games, on which the group has not positioned itself – France Télévisions has bought rights from it. The public group also negotiated with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to become the sole official free broadcaster of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Even if it means breaking the bank.
“Yes, it’s a sumadmits Laurent-Eric Le Lay, sports director at France Télévisions, who does not communicate the amount involved. “Sport is expensive when it is very eventful”, he adds. It is also a Source of record audiences. That is why “ we have rebooked the Games until 2032, which will ensure follow-up. »
For the torch relay, whose logic is somewhat similar to that of the Tour de France, with stage towns, “we have made an unprecedented effort at France Télévisions with the ambition to live up to innovation, explains Mr. Le Lay. Technology makes it possible to do this monitoring with very agile and lightweight means”.
Social networks play an important role in the system, also notes Mr. Le Lay. In particular, they allow us to offer a vision alongside live broadcasts. “Our idea is to be the first in the world to cover this torch relay and to reach an audience who might not have been interested in it. »
If opinion studies show that French support for the Games is far from general, in particular among Ile-de-France residents directly confronted with the constraints that the preparation and hosting of the event entail, Mr. Le Lay says “ [ressentir] in Paris and in the provinces, real pride for these Games.” “And I’m not very worried: the French want to watch the Games,” he assures. Watch on television, which ultimately suits the public audiovisual group.
