After its early pioneering years and the consolidation of its flagship status among French viewers, the 1990s are a period of expansion with the arrival of Eurosport as part of the TF1 group; the launch of LCI (France’s first rolling news channel) and satellite broadcaster TPS; and first steps on the web with TF1.fr.
The movie Astérix et Obélix contre César, directed by Claude Zidi and co-produced by TF1 Films Production, goes on general release. The screening of Balzac, directed by José Dayan and starring Gérard Depardieu, helps TF1 win 8 prizes at the “7 d’Or” French TV awards (including Best Drama for their previous collaboration, Monte Cristo). The French national rugby team delivers one of its best performances ever, hammering New Zealand in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup.
On TF1, Lagaf presents the first edition of the highly successful game show Le Bigdil, which remains in the schedules until 2004. In sport, Eurosport attracts an aggregate audience of 80 million viewers for its 24/7 coverage of the Nagano Winter Olympics. And over 20 million people watch the triumph of French national team “Les Bleus” in the final of the football World Cup.
TF1 is a partner in the creation and launch of TPS (short for “Télévision Par Satellite”), a bouquet of satellite channels, alongside France Televisions, France Télécom, Compagnie Luxembourgeoise, M6 and Lyonnaise des Eaux. In the same year Les Enfants de la télé, hosted by Arthur and Pierre Tchernia, moves to TF1.
The TF1 group commits further to news programming with the launch of LCI, France’s first-ever rolling news channel. Françoise Marie Morel hosts the first broadcast on 24 June.
Broadcaster of the European Cup since 1977 and the Champions League from 1992, TF1 carries live coverage of the heyday of French club football, culminating in Marseille’s victory in the 1993 Champions League final.
TF1 relocates its studios from Rue Cognac-Jay in central Paris to more modern premises, and inaugurates its new headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt, where Francis Bouygues and Patrick Le Lay laid foundation stone of the new TF1 headquarters. The year also sees Evelyne Dhéliat’s debut as a weather presenter, and a blossoming of French drama with hit shows like Julie Lescaut, Les Cordier, juge et flic, and Une Famille Formidable.
Europe’s premier sports broadcaster Eurosport joins the TF1 group, building on the Group’s strong tradition in sports coverage. Claire Chazal becomes an anchor on the TF1 weekend news bulletin.
TF1 changes its logo and adopts the familiar blue/white/red branding still used today.