Téléfoot is a French football programme produced by TF1 Production for TF1. The programme was created by Pierre Cangioni in 1977 to show French Division 1 highlights. Téléfoot now covers France international matches, European club competitions and foreign football leagues.
History
In 1977, Pierre Cangioni had the idea for a French football television programme. He pitched the idea to bosses of TF1, who agreed to pay 700,000F to acquire the rights for the coverage from Division 1.[1] It was France's first dedicated football television programme,[2] and Cangioni was the show's first presenter.[3][4][5] The original format was two matches, each with ten minutes of highlights, and an in depth look at some players,[6][7] and the show was broadcast on Saturday evenings. The show was not allowed to be broadcast before 10:30pm so that people were able to go to matches and get home in time for Téléfoot.[6] Initially trialled for 15 programmes under the name of Téléfoot 1 (so that the programme initials were TF1),[6] TF1 decided to renew the show for the 1978,[8] and renamed the show Téléfoot.[6] In 1979, TF1 signed a three-year contract with Ligue 1 for the rights, at a cost of 9 million francs.[8]
After Roland's departure, Jeanpierre hosted the show in 2004, alongside Nathalie Renoux [fr].[9] In January 2005, they were replaced by Thierry Gilardi, who presented the show until his death in 2008.[8] After his death, Téléfoot gave a special tribute to him, including interviews with Didier Drogba and Jacques Vendroux [fr].[10] Christian Jeanpierre took over from Gilardi as Téléfoot presenter,[11] and his first programme was the one dedicated to Gilardi.[7] Co-presenters alongside Jeanpierre included Frédéric Calenge [fr] and Charlotte Namura [fr], and Bixente Lizarazu made guest host appearances on the show.[7] After the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Jeanpierre was replaced by Grégoire Margotton as the main presenter of Téléfoot.[12][13]
In 2007, Téléfoot lost the rights to Ligue 1 football, after the Ligue de Football Professionnel awarded the rights to Canal+. Téléfoot continued to show highlights of foreign matches, European club competitions, and international matches.[14][15] After the decision, former presenter Roland said that he would no longer watch Téléfoot, as he wanted to see French league goals.[14] TF1 were the only free-to-air French channel with coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[16] TF1 had won the rights to broadcast twelve matches at UEFA Euro 2020.[17]
In June 2020, it was announced that TF1 had partnered with new Ligue 1 rightsholder Mediapro to launch a Téléfoot-brandedpay television channel.[18][19] The channel closed on 8 February 2021 after Mediapro exited its contract, and Canal+ reassumed them on an interim basis.[20]