Highlights from the ARTE studios visit: An inside look at audiovisual production

On Wednesday, September 24, 2024, our alumni and students had the opportunity to visit the ARTE studios. This immersive experience amade them explore the inner workings of the Franco-German channel and learn more about the production of large-scale European television programs. ARTE broadcasts approximately 8 500 programs each year. The ARTE network includes 12 European public channels, collaborating with partners like ORF in Austria, SRG in Switzerland, and RAI in Italy. For over a year, Baltic countries such as Lithuania and Latvia have joined this partnership.

The magic behind the scenes  

The visit kicked off with an exploration of the TV sets, where everything was ready for the upcoming newscast. Participants observed the cameras, teleprompters, and other essential technical equipment needed for broadcasting. Every detail is meticulously managed by a team that handles the files and oversees the entire production process. Although the TV host is solo on set during the broadcast, they maintain constant communication with the control room. This complex coordination system ensures a smooth and seamless production.

ARTE offers both French and German versions of its content, broadcast every evening. A team of four, sometimes hailing from Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, or France, collaborates to prepare the scripts and topics. The diversity within the team reflects ARTE's commitment to produce genuinely European content. Notably, ARTE engages younger audiences through ARTE Journal Junior (or Kinder Kanal), a program launched in 2005 designed to provide news tailored for children aged 8 to 15. A small team of bilingual journalists creates six-minute segments to make current events accessible to kids and young teens.

Next, we discovered the large studio, equipped with a green screen for filming. It hosts programs like ARTE Weekly, a weekly digital magazine available in four languages: French, German, English, and Spanish. This program attracts native journalists, often traveling from as far as Madrid to participate in the filming. ARTE Europe Weekly aims to reach a wider audience, with subtitles available in several additional languages, including Italian, Polish, Greek, and soon Romanian.

A Report: The human behind the camera

Later in the evening, alumni and students had the chance to view a clip from a report on abortion in the United States, produced by the journalist Uwe Müller. Active in the field for 25 years, Uwe shared the behind-the-scenes process of creating this report, including the challenges of on-the-ground contacts and the number of days required for filming. The report revealed a shocking statistic: 65,000 women who have been raped are unable to access abortion services in the United States. This statistic was a kick starter for Uwe Müller and inspired him to create the report. He highlighted the distinction between a documentary and a news report, two different formats produced by professionals with distinct skill sets.

Our visitors also gained insights into the organizational structure of ARTE, particularly the crucial role of ARTE GEIE, which oversees 20% of the programming and multilingual broadcasting in collaboration with various European partners. ARTE’s significance in the European audiovisual landscape is reflected in its diverse range of content, from cinema, music, history, to knowledge, and culture.

We would like to thank Elcke Blocher, whose exceptional hosting skills received unanimous praise, and Uwe Müller for his insightful sharing of experiences. This visit to ARTE GEIE studios offered a captivating glimpse into the world of European audiovisual production and provided a wonderful opportunity to better understand ARTE's commitment to culture, education, and making its content accessible to a diverse audience.

Explore the world of ARTE on their website: ARTE, the European culture TV channel, free and on demand