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The mobile video teams usually have to deal with a lot of traffic and parking problems with their traditional equipment, explains Olivier Martinez, Director of News Resources. Naturally, the technicians wondered how they could get round these problems to do their job as well as possible. The electric bike was an obvious choice.
The aim of our thinking is not to do without our usual vehicles for all our live broadcasts, explains Adrien Noel, cameraman. We'll always have moves that we can't envisage by bike. But we need to know how to challenge our practices, to have a ‘local’ and agile approach that allows us to work differently, being more eco-responsible without compromising the quality of our work.
A user-led project
A project was therefore set up with the support of engineering teams and Techlab teams, with the aim of deploying a solution for the opening of the Olympic Games.
The first stage was to define the requirements and the missions that could be carried out with this type of vehicle.
The teams wanted to be able to provide daily news coverage with the possibility of establishing live broadcasts in all situations, using both 5G connectivity via a TVU One transmitter and satellite internet (Starlink antenna).
The only framework we have set is to be able to produce two live signals: one for the live journalist, the other for a ‘beauty’ camera to provide an illustrative shot, says Olivier Martinez.
The importance of choosing the right bike
The project team called on a specialist in the professional use of bicycles to choose the model best suited to their needs.
Whether it was a three-wheeled bike, a trailer bike or a cargo bike, everyone had their own ideas. In the end, we were able to find the model that suited us best, says Adrien Noel. Because it wasn't just a question of managing the movement, but also of studying how best to integrate all the equipment: cameras, batteries, Starlink aerial, 5G TVU box, cables, stands, lighting, etc. The bikes were delivered and equipped with the latest technology.
The bikes were delivered and fitted out in June. Trials and hands-on training have been carried out and continue to be provided so that the teams can adapt to the particular handling of the cargo bike and the weight of the equipment being transported (up to 80 kilos per bike!!!).
First live broadcasts
The first live broadcast took place on 15 July during France2's special on the Olympic torch. The bicycles enabled the team to get as close as possible to the live coverage and to enter Roland Garros with their equipment, saving them the trouble of carrying it over a long distance.
The project is not yet complete. The teams now have to use the bikes and become aware of the advantages and difficulties of working with their cargo bikes so that we can develop the concept over time, explains Eric Giet, head of the Mobile Sound and Video Unit.
An eco-responsible approach
These new tools reinforce the eco-responsible approach to information production.
Romuald RAT, director of the Techlab, says that the commitment of the production teams is a determining factor in the development of innovative technological solutions that are more economical, more agile and more responsible. The best examples of this are the coverage of the Olympic torch relay and the broadcast of the special days on 14 and 15 July, with the Sports and Information departments using private 5G and cloud production.
In addition, Olivier Martinez points out that the news department is initiating some simple measures, such as making electric bicycles available to reporting crews during the Olympic period. We will be paying close attention to the feedback we receive from the teams in order to assess whether this mode of transport should be made permanent.
France Télévisions is committed to the Cop21 objectives of reducing CO2 emissions by 42%. These initiatives are signs of the strong involvement of employees in this approach.
