Mediawan Rights, Studiocanal Ally to Sell Groundbreaking Sports Commentating Talent Contest ‘Hit the Mic!’

As a sports enthusiast with a deep appreciation for commentary that elevates the viewing experience, I find the concept of “Hit the Mic – A New Voice for Sports” to be absolutely thrilling! Coming from someone who’s spent countless hours watching and dissecting games, this format is a breath of fresh air in the world of talent contests.


In an alliance of two of the most powerful TV companies in Europe, and signalling Canal+-owned Studiocanal’s new drive into unscripted, Mediawan Rights and Studiocanal are bringing to market at Mipcom “Hit the Mic! – A New Voice for Sports,” a format which achieves the big ask of breaking new ground in talent contests. 

Through the joint production of Canal+ and Black Dynamite Production, under the Mediawan label, a talent competition focusing on sports television unfolds around live sports commentary. The unique aspect of its design is its versatility across various sports, showcasing skilled commentators who can create captivating experiences from any sport, as noted by Mediawan Rights and Studiocanal in their official statement released Wednesday.

Back in April 2024, the innovative show ‘Hit the Mic’, focusing solely on sports commentary, made its debut on air, coinciding with the crucial matches of the UEFA European Champions League soccer tournament. Each episode attracted around 400,000 viewers, a number that increased with catchup viewings. The audience’s positive reaction led to Canal+ renewing it for a second season in May.

Emphasizing its global appeal, significant markets like the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, and numerous African nations have acquired the rights to this format.

30 contestants from Paris, Lens, and Marseilles go head-to-head in “Hit the Mic!” by offering live commentaries on a thrilling 50-second clip from an unforgettable Champions League match that concludes with a dramatic goal.

For the initial nine-episode French version, Canal+ openly invited submissions: They had 564 UEFA Cup matches to air on their channels the following season, as stated in Episode 1 of “Hit the Mic!”. In total, they received 10,000 applications, and 30 aspiring commentators were selected for interviews.

The show elucidates fundamental aspects of sportscasting: Capturing the emotional impact of the situation, expressing one’s own character and vocal tone as a commentator, and avoiding excessive monotony that could overpower viewers with relentless intensity in commentary delivery.

The phrase ‘Hit the Mic’ reflects the culture of Canal+, a premium pay TV service in Europe, and Black Dynamite Production. The contestants are questioned on their wide-ranging soccer knowledge, including the background and significance of each match, like why the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool took place at Paris’ Stade de France instead of its original location in St. Petersburg. (Explanation: The game was relocated from St. Petersburg following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine).

The format enables viewers to re-experience standout moments from historic Champions League matches, like Karim Benzema’s powerful header goal against Chelsea during Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory, which significantly boosted his chances of claiming the 2022 Ballon d’Or.

In the first season of their original series, the jury members were Laure Boulleau, a previous Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) player and consultant for Canal+ sports, David Ginola, an enchanting former winger for PSG and the Premier League’s Player of the Year in 1999, as well as Hervé Mathoux, who is the editor-in-chief and renowned commentator for soccer on Canal+.

Valérie Vleeschhouwer, the Managing Director at Mediawan Rights, expressed great enthusiasm as they carry on refining their strategic plans in the area of unscripted programming distribution, given the exceptional caliber of these shows,” is one way to paraphrase the original statement.

As a movie lover, I can’t help but be captivated by the brilliance that is ‘Hit The Mic! – A New Voice for Sports’. This innovative creation serves as a unifying force for soccer enthusiasts and beyond, seamlessly blending entertainment with an authentic sporting culture. What sets this format apart is its remarkable adaptability to various sports disciplines, thereby expanding its reach to the largest global audience possible.

Anne Chérel, Chief Commercial Officer at Studiocanal, expressed her enthusiasm about contributing their knowledge in global sales to this forward-thinking and ambitious project. By teaming up with Mediawan Rights for distribution, we are certain that ‘Hit the Mic! – A New Voice for Sports’ will be presented with numerous adaptations globally. This partnership also signifies Studiocanal’s emerging goals in the area of formats and unscripted content.

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2024-10-16 12:17