The Roland-Garros tournament organizers failed to make the right choice. France Televisions Delphine Ernotte's president criticized the decision to stream the quarter-final between Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, to Amazon Prime in a night session (8.45 p.m.). "This French Tennis Federation decision deeply shocks my. This is a terrible blow to our partnership as we have participated for many years in exposing the tournament and popularizing it with all French people," said Delphine Ernotte in an interview with "Figaro" on Tuesday.
Evening matches can only be broadcast on the US platform. Daytime matches can be broadcast on public service channels. It is shocking that an American player, like Amazon, would be favored over public service, especially for an event funded in full or in part by government money. She laments that the opposite would be impossible in America. Amazon decided to stream the match free of charge to ease frustrations and make it accessible to the public. To view the match, spectators will not have to subscribe.
France Televisions' boss says it is still a ruse. Amazon's free distribution is a decoy. It only generates subscriptions and data. It's also a breach of equality if not all French have high-speed Internet access, "casts Delphine Ernie.
"This event raises the issue of privatization of sport at the expense of those who can't afford it. She stated that it was urgent to ensure free access to major events, particularly those which are publicly funded. Roland-Garros' management has not yet responded to this declaration.
