Tournament review

TV production
Capturing
the moment
Host broadcast partner Eurosport worked in
close partnership with UEFA to transmit the
excitement of the EURO worldwide
The high quality of the action and the packed
stands at the Arena of Belgrade made for
compelling viewing both at the venue and for
those at home. Host broadcaster Eurosport
covered every minute of every match in HD with
Dolby 5.1 surround sound, with nine cameras –
including super-slow motion and crane cameras
– ensuring every kick was captured. UEFA host
broadcast support was on site for the first
matchday to oversee Eurosport's set-up and
operation and also to provide assistance for
the three unilateral broadcasters at the venue:
MTVA (Hungary), RTS (Serbia) and TVI (Portugal).
Jean-Marc Stabler was Eurosport's TV director
in Belgrade and it was his job to select the best
images for transmission. Here he explains why
covering futsal live is so unique.
Eurosport TV director Jean-Marc Stabler at home in the OB van
Can you introduce your team?
It's roughly 30 people producing the television
coverage and nine cameras in the arena.
Two are super-slow-motion cameras and there's
also one crane camera. It's a very good set-up
for futsal.
So you have covered futsal before.
Yes, I've done lots of tournaments, almost all in
the last ten years. I started with Futsal EURO
2007 in Portugal, so this is my fifth European
Championship. As TV director I've also done the
Futsal Cups.
What makes covering futsal unique?
The technique and the movement. The
players' changes of direction are very fast and
unpredictable. Futsal has become much more
spectacular in recent years, attracting much
bigger audiences. It really has improved.
How does it differ from directing a
football match?
The first big difference is the speed: speed of the
ball, speed of the players, speed of positional
changes on the pitch. All our television activities
and decisions – the cameramen's and then my
own – must be faster. Everybody involved must
be even more focused.
Is there anything in particular you try
to capture?
We get great slow motions but it's risky to show
them live because the game can be incredibly
fast. Players can score from anywhere, so we
have to be very careful. The most important
thing about live coverage is a good balance,
so your slow-motion shots might be used at
half-time or a time-out.
How well do you know the sport?
Usually I do football matches but only one a
week, so 20 futsal games in two weeks is a
big challenge. I have to be more focused than
for football; the balance between cameras is
almost the same and the main camera is still
the first choice. I enjoy the atmosphere and
I'd say I am becoming a bigger and bigger
futsal fan.
"Futsal has become much
more spectacular in
recent years, attracting
much bigger audiences"
Kazakhstan goalkeeper
Higuita was never out of focus
68 SERBIA 2016 TOURNAMENT REVIEW
69