Canal +: Cyril Linette, a Satisfied and Ambitious Sports Director

After the earthquake of the change of Formula 1 broadcaster, after twenty years of being on TF1, it’s time for explanations. In this context, Cyril Linette, the Director of Sports for the Canal+ Group, is the most capable of providing future viewers of the sport on the encrypted channel with information, even though satisfaction is predominant: “Formula 1 was an opportunity right, a conquest right […] by winning it, in a very competitive context, we strengthen our image, and we even establish ourselves as the group offering the best in sports. We are here! And we have shown that we are determined! It should be noted that the competition was fierce once again. […] By securing these rights, we also demonstrated that we are extremely committed to offering the best to our subscribers,” he said during an interview with our colleagues from *En Pleine Lucarne*.

Les Grand Prix live on Canal +, not on D8

Regarding the plan for the next three seasons, the former Canal + commentator is very clear: « All Grand Prix races will be broadcast on Canal+, encrypted. There might be a few exceptions, if a Grand Prix falls during the time of the Canal Football Club or our Ligue 1 showcase [this should concern the US and Brazil GPs, editor’s note]. In that case, it will be broadcast on Canal + Sport. Today, all Canal subscribers have Canal + Sport so it’s the same thing. » An announcement that matches what was already indicated yesterday by C. Linette on his Twitter account, while specifying that the free practice sessions could be broadcast on Canal + Sport, whereas the qualifiers would have the honor of Canal +.

Regarding D8, the group’s new free channel, broadcasting the Grand Prix live is excluded. However, there might be a possibility to rebroadcast the Grand Prix as D8 does with the Champions League, for example. I don’t know. But all the live broadcasts will be on Canal+ and only there. As for Sport+, which was once considered as a possible broadcaster for the trials, it might ultimately broadcast, similar to what Eurosport does for the TF1 Group, the satellite categories: In the contract, we also have other competitions like GP2, GP3, or Porsche. Maybe we will broadcast them on Sport+. It’s still a bit too early for me to tell you more.

A magazine in the clear, on Canal+ or D8

Like football – the flagship product of the channel – Formula 1 will also have its own Sunday show in the clear: It will be a magazine program broadcast in the late afternoon after each Grand Prix, similar to what we do for the Canal Football Club. It will be the Canal Football Club of F1. We believe it’s important for those who can’t afford to subscribe and watch F1 on Canal+ in encrypted form to still have access to a quality news magazine with analyses, summaries, and highlights of Formula 1 and the competition. A magazine for which the broadcast could be either on Canal+ or D8, as the decision has not yet been made.

F1 observers in France often criticized TF1’s lack of promotion of the sport. What will it be like with Canal+? « Outside of this magazine, we will treat F1 as we do other sports, with weekly magazines, major reports, news with the participation of Infosport+, talk shows; we can go on air well before the races and stay on long after if we want. That’s what’s great about us: we can do whatever we want, and believe me, we will do everything to promote F1. »

The question of hosts remains unresolved

The other question many enthusiasts ask is about the journalists who will comment on the discipline. Among the members of the Canal+ group, Alexandre Delpérier, who has already commented on Formula 1 on RMC between 2002 and 2008 and then from 2008 to 2009 on Europe 1, as well as the famous SuperLeague Formula on Direct 8, is considered a favorite. However, Cyril Linette asserts that nothing is set: « Out of superstition, we didn’t want to start contacting journalists, hosts, or consultants before securing the rights. So I’ll finish my day of interviews and get started (laughs). […] We’re going to look into it starting tomorrow. But we also have internally a Thomas Sénécal, who presented Automoto and is very, very good in the field. We have a month to form a team. It may not be entirely complete for the start of the season, but it will be ready to bring us the beginning while awaiting the final adjustments.

In any case, the final arrangement should be known in the coming weeks – with the Australian Grand Prix fast approaching – and address the many questions raised by this drastic change for fans of the discipline.