Production and announcement teams will be on site; some support will be removed
CBS Sports is heading across the pond to the Stade de France in the suburbs of Paris this weekend to broadcast the UEFA Champions League final live on Saturday. CBS and Paramount + will broadcast a live 90-minute pre-match studio show along with halftime and post-match. In addition, CBS Sports will have its own speakers and reporters on the field for the match.
With the final stadium of the Champions League in full capacity, for the first time since 2019. Pete Radovich, Creative Director / Coordinating Producer, Football Reporting, CBS Sportshe calls Saturday’s production the culmination of two years of work since CBS acquired Champions League rights.
“We have been waiting for this since the first day, and that was almost two years ago. This is the best scenario for us, so we are excited about it, “he said. “It’s something you dream about when you work in this industry, and you work in this sport to be in the Champions League final. There is absolutely nothing for being in Paris [to be onsite]. Once published [that it would be] moved to Paris, we started all the wheels. “
CBS will have the largest presence on the spot for the Champions League match so far, including a new set created especially for the finals and which has been given a dynamic position at the venue courtesy of UEFA. The production team is fully on-site in Paris, with production support in London and Paris. Host Kate Abdo i analysts Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragheri Micah Richards will deal with study obligations for pre-match, half-time and post-match shows.
Additionally, journalists Peter Schmeichel, Jules Breach, William Balaguei Jenny Chiu will be on the field side and will contribute to coverage before / after the match. Match commentator Clive Tildesley i analyst Rob Green will be on the spot. CBS sports rules expert Kristina Unkel will be away from New York.
“Starting with all this in the middle of a pandemic when we basically had our hands tied behind our backs to get started [was challenging]”, Recounts Radović. “Half of the studios were closed, and the trips were difficult. Given the circumstances where we started and how we had to start, I am very satisfied [at where we are now]but I know we will be better. “
With a mix of authentic personalities on the air and favorite segments such as “In the Miker”, Radović believes, the CBS Sports Champions League studio show finally reaches its step when it closes the second year of its rights package.
“I’m proud of the fact that a simple segment like ‘In the Miker’ can go so well and be so well received,” he says. “But it’s all about asking these guys questions and finding the next two or three segments of the idea that work well and resonate with the audience.
“With the Champions League,” he continues, “I think we’re pretty established now and we’ve finally found our style. We have a team in place. We are satisfied with the chemistry. I would put this show against any show on sports television in America. I would put our talent, our speakers, our team against everything that exists. The bar is getting higher and higher. It’s getting better and better for us. “
As CBS seeks to continue boosting its coverage of the Champions League - and football coverage in general - viewers can expect more frequent on-site productions like the one they will see this weekend at the Stade de France, Radovic said.
“The biggest thing will be finding a way to travel more often,” he says. “For me, it is a new frontier, because we fought against COVID and now with the final at a full stadium. Remember, last year, [when] we did the finals, it wasn’t even a full stadium. We weren’t there. We were in London because of the restrictions. Now, knock on wood, it seems to be the door to full stadiums and full coverage. I think the next limit for us will be playing road games [and] leading studio on the road - go to Germany, go to Barcelona, go to Italy. That’s the next thing for me. “