The Dakar, an out of the ordinary event, enjoys a considerable amount of media exposure. The adventure of the very first competitors immediately caught the imagination of the French TV channels, then the bug spread to the whole of Europe before crossing the oceans. Nowadays, pictures of the rally are broadcast or published in 190 countries across the world. The evocative power of the landscapes crossed by the rally, combined with the experiences of the competitors on the event, produces a heady mixture for the viewer, listener or reader. More than 300 media organisations are present on the Dakar.

 

TV

In more than 190 countries, 70 TV channels broadcast news of the race. Each day, the three TV helicopters, which send back pictures from the race filmed on the special stage, are involved in a race against time. The editing suites installed at the finishing line work at full capacity to ensure optimum speed of reaction. Six to seven hours of programs are sent every day to the partner channels.

• 55 international, national or regional channels will be present at the bivouac.
• 1200 hours of programmes were broadcast in 2010.

 

Photos

The Dakar is conducive to spectacular photos. For the most talented press photographers, it is the ideal means of expression. In press cars for the most part, they set off each day to search for the most impressive “spot”. The representatives of the biggest organisations (Press Sport, AFP, AP, DPPI) follow the stage leaders via helicopter.

• 57 photographers will be present throughout the entire rally, working for 10 photo agencies.

 

Written press - Radio

Covering the Dakar counts amongst the unmissable experiences for a sports journalist. In a press vehicle or in the dedicated plane, the journalists follow the competitors and discover their utmost delights and must crushing disappointments. Whether working for agencies, as special envoys for daily newspapers or for specialist magazines, the journalists draw their inspiration from the wide open spaces that host the rally.

• 156 accredited journalists from the written press, agencies and radio stations will be present.

With a new web site, a presence on the Facebook and Twitter social networks, applications and games for mobiles, an on-line game, a partnership with the Argentinean mobile phone operator Personal, the 2011 edition of the Dakar is most definitely a part of the web 2.0 world.

A NEW LOOK FOR DAKAR.COM

The rally’s official web site has been totally redesigned for the 2011 edition. Dakar.com welcomes web surfers to a visual universe as closely resembling as possible to the majestic landscapes in which the rally’s competitors do battle. The focus has been placed on movement and images: this year visitors will find photos in all the sections of the site, throughout the day.
During the 2010 edition, 5.5 million visitors were recorded on dakar.com. For 2011, they will be provided with live news from the race, real-time tracking of the competitors thanks to Iritrack technology, then at the end of the day interviews, videos, full standings, etc.

THE DAKAR ON YOUR MOBILE

To allow all its fans to keep in permanent touch with the rally, an application for iPhones and Android mobile phones has been developed. A version of the content of the dakar.com web site will be available from the start of December by downloading the dedicated iPhone application free of charge from App Store. A game for mobiles is also available to train at driving or riding… in realistic conditions (iPhone, BlackBerry, Android).
For Argentina and Paraguay, the official sponsor Personal will be allowing its subscribers exclusive access to many services and content via an application for iPhone and Android, as well as a WAP portal, the mobile game, etc.

FACEBOOK, TWITTER

The Dakar has been present on social networks for several months, in particular through its official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/dakar), and already has almost 80,000 fans. A genuine supplement to Dakar.com, the fans and those wishing to find out more will be able to check out the best moments of the race in photo and video format, as well as exclusive interviews and behind the scenes reports on the event.

The Twitter account (www.twitter.com/dakarofficial) will in particular be used daily to convey information on security and access to spectator zones for the general public and media organisations.

VIRTUAL RALLY GAME

More than 150,000 players tried out this formula last year. For the 2011 edition, the official on-line game will again allow web users to test their mettle on a virtual rally route. Just like the competitors in reality, the will have to make navigational choices, choose their driving/riding tactics, check tyre pressure, etc.

PREVISIONAL 2011 DAKAR BROADCAST

190 countries
70 TV Channels

 

AMERICAS

• Fox sports Latin America (41 countries)
• USA & Canada - Versus TV, OLN
• Argentina - Canal 7
• Guatemala - Canal 3
• Brazil - TV Globo & Sport TV
• Paraguay - Telefuturo
• Chile – TVN, 24 Horas

 

WESTERN EUROPE

• Eurosport (59 countries)
• France - France 2/3/4
• Netherlands - RTL 7
• Germany - RTL, ARD/ZDF, N-tv
• Denmark - TV2
• Belgium – RTBF/ VTM (NEW)
• Italy – Rai- Sportitalia
• Norway – TV2 Sport
• Austria – Servus TV, Redbull TV
• Spain – Teledeporte (NEW), TV3 Catalunya
• Portugal – TVI / TV24
• Russia – TV Center (NEW), Ren TV (NEW)
• Poland - TVP
• Czech Republic - CT4
• Lithuania - Baltijos TV
• Serbia – RTS
• Ukraine – Inter TV
• Hungary – TV2
• Macedonia – A1 TV

 

EUROPEAN NEWS

• Deutsche Welle
• Euronews (54 countries)

 

WORLD NEWS

• Reuters (473 member channels, 103 countries)
• SNTV (250 member channels, 78 countries)
• UER (66 member channels, 46 countries)
• TV5: Asie, USA, Canada, Afrique et Moyen Orient

 

ASIA / AUSTRALIA

• Eurosport Asie (NEW) (15 countries)
• Australia - SBS and Fox Sport
• China - CCTV5
• Hong Kong – TVB (NEW)
• Japan - J Sports
• New Zealand - Sky TV
• Taiwan - Sanlih TV, Videoland Sports channel

 

AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST

• Supersports (52 countries – Africa)
• Dubai sport channel (25 countries – Middle East)
• Al Jazeera sports (23 countries – Middle East)
• Abu Dhabi Sports( Middle East) Morocco – 2M

FRANCE TELEVISIONS, A TRADITIONAL PARTNER OF THE DAKAR

France Télévisions will be plotting its course for Argentina and Chile for the third year running, from 1st to 16^th January 2011.

The various France Télévisions channels and web sites will be picking up the race from 2^nd January onwards. Every day, they will be presenting a show live from the race, as well as several programmes devoted to the Dakar 2011, offering complete coverage of this event.

	Every day* from 6.50 pm to 7.40 pm Le Dakar (The Dakar) Presented by Gérard Holtz and Luc Alphand 52 minutes live to experience the day’s racing. At the heart of the race, on board his helicopter, Jean-François Kerckaert will be providing live coverage of the final moments and finish of the car special stage. Reports from the Bivouac, will be made by our specialists Christian Choupin and Gaël Robic. Lastly, Dominique Le Glou will be presenting Carnet de route (the Journey Log-book), a programme that immerses itself in the Argentine and Chilean populations, to discover local customs.
	Every day* before 8 pm L’Image du Jour (image of the day)
	Every day* from 8 pm Le Journal du Dakar (Dakar News) Presented by Gérard Holtz and Luc Alphand A 5 minute summary of the race’s highlights with interviews and the latest standings. At the heart of the action and live, Gérard Holtz will be commenting the day’s news stories.
	Every day* during the late evening Bivouac Presented by Gérard Holtz and Luc Alphand Behind the scenes of bivouac life, meeting the competitors to relive and analyse the day’s stage.
	On Sunday 9th and 16th January Stade 2 Presented by Lionel Chamoulaud Exceptional live coverage from Antofagasta (Chile) and Buenos Aires (Argentina).

*Except the rest day on Saturday 8^th January

Finally, on the web, the site sport.francetv.fr, with in particular Grégory Jouin as a special envoy, will be providing complete coverage of the Dakar 2011, with real-time tracking of the stages, all the news, results and standings in each category, live.

Director of Operations > Florent Houzot
Press Relations > Jennifer Armand – +33 (0)1 56 22 22 90 / Fanta Traoré – +33 (0)1 56 22 50 77