The American presidential election: the ceremonial battle of the French news channels

American class. Sets arranged in front of the Capitol or New York, special editions, decryption during the night, not forgetting long formats to take the hits of America in the previous weeks presidential election on November 5. “In every election, we say this is the most important thing in historysays Nicolas Marut, assistant director of BFMTV editors. But this time, it’s true. » The channel has also decided to move its editions from November 3 with 42 people placed there, including its three stars: Apolline de Malherbe, Benjamin Duhamel and Maxime Switek. “Unprecedented in the history of BFM. »

On the other side of the Seine, at TF1 headquarters, it’s time for battle too. LCI will also send its stars to the United States, for its special edition on November 5: Darius Rochebin, Margot Haddad and Jean-Baptiste Boursier. “For us, the election is not just on November 5points out Guillaume Debré, general director of LCI. We have been reporting ahead of time, and we don’t just live in Washington to make duplexes. » TF1 rarely broadcasts LCI from 1:30 am, as it was for the previous American presidential election. The channel also benefits from a partnership with ABC News so they can use their data, especially maps of key states with live results.

There is no barrier and expensive tools for CNews as a mobile set. So the system will be reduced compared to the 2020 election, where the channel had an agreement with the American channel CBS News, which could take over its broadcast and broadcast it in translation as- one. The special broadcast will begin on November 5 at midnight for the “100% USA” edition with, from 4 am, duplexes with special correspondents Régine Delfour and Olivier Benkemoun, as well as on-site correspondents Fanny Chauvin and Ramzy Malouki. From 6 in the morning, Romain Desarbres will also have a Matinale dedicated to this president and ideas around the world.

As for the group France Televisions, it is not left out. The presenter of the 20 Heures de France 2, Anne-Sophie Lapix, will be in New York from November 4 to 6 for a special page of the television news. For the American night, Laurent Delahousse will stay on deck. “It is not an audience choice, but a democratic and informational matter for the public service”, explains Muriel Pleynet, the group’s national editorial director.

Actually, the channels are mostly looking for image impact. The cost of that work runs to several hundred thousand euros, and advertising spaces are often removed to accommodate live broadcasts. Even if the war of the news channels is played out online, in replay or on social networks. Because four years ago, from 2 am, according to Médiamétrie, only a few hundred thousand viewers were in front of their screens.