Live From Tokyo Olympics: France TV's Frederick Gaillard on a French Virtual Studio First

France Télévisions has 190 people, 10 ENG crews, seven edit suites and unique studio set-up where they have a prime location overlooking Tokyo Bay. What makes it unique? All the talent is back in Paris and green-screened into the set, which is located at the France House, about a mile from the IBC.

Frederic Gaillard in master control at the Tokyo IBC.

“This is the first time we do a virtual studio from 10,000 kilometers away so it’s a new experience for us,” says Frederic Gaillard, head of production for sports at France TV. “We have seven cameras in the studio, and they all go back to Paris where the studio show is produced.”

About 100 people are back home in Paris finalizing coverage which is seen on France 2, 3, and 4. Master control in Tokyo pulls in the 76 OBS feed and routes 34 of those to the control rooms in Paris. There are also four return paths.

“We also have a digital service where all the sports are available so everyone in France can see anything,” adds Gaillard.

Athletics has the biggest France TV presence with four unilateral cameras. Those signals are sent to Paris to be cut with commentary which is done live from the stadium.

As for UHD HDR, normally France TV would carry it but the cost of getting those signals back home was cost prohibitive.

Up next? Getting ready for the Beijing Games, a process that begins with sending the equipment back to Paris as rental equipment needs to be returned. But expect the France TV team to pretty much have the same workflow in place.