De la télé à 550 millions de vues : la folle histoire de Riding Zone

The speaker expresses frustration with having to constantly convince TV channels about their show, "Riding Zone," and hearing the same unenthusiastic responses. After 13-14 years on France Télévisions, the channel abruptly ceased broadcasting "Riding Zone" in 2020. This sudden halt was extremely difficult for the team, especially since the program was a success, outperforming its channel's average audience despite being on a less powerful network. "Riding Zone" was also a pioneer in utilizing YouTube for its content, a practice France Télévisions initially avoided due to fear. The end of the show felt violent, as years of accumulated experience and effort were suddenly cut short. The official reason given for the cancellation was not a lack of budget but the channel itself shutting down. This made the situation even tougher. The speaker managed to negotiate a temporary continuation with Oku, launching a junior version of "Riding Zone." However, this was a much smaller, underexposed part of the original show, which the speaker found very frustrating. After about a year, they decided to change their approach entirely, a risky move in the TV industry where maintaining good relations with broadcasters is crucial due to limited opportunities. The speaker decided they were tired of trying to convince channels and dealing with their skepticism. Believing strongly in "Riding Zone," they concluded that if traditional broadcasters didn't recognize its value, they would transform into a "pure player" like a YouTuber. They already had a YouTube channel but had only used it to post full episodes. Now, they planned to fully embrace the YouTube model, seeking direct funding from their audience through crowdfunding and exploring brand partnerships. This led to a crowdfunding campaign on Ulule. The speaker made a video explaining the situation to their audience, announcing the end of the classic "Riding Zone" format due to lost funding but launching a crowdfunding initiative to continue. The speaker admitted feeling awkward asking for money, as they were accustomed to broadcaster funding and were not from a generation that typically solicited funds for projects. For them, "Riding Zone" was public service television, and it belonged on public channels. The speaker, originally from French Guiana, felt that France didn't adequately value youth or personal initiatives, often pushing young people towards traditional career paths that are increasingly difficult to pursue successfully. "Riding Zone," in contrast, told inspiring stories of passionate individuals who followed their hearts, dared to create their own worlds, and didn't necessarily seek financial rewards or conventional recognition in established sports. Unlike mainstream sports with clear paths to success, the alternative sports featured in "Riding Zone" offered few such references. The show encouraged viewers to pursue their passions, believe in themselves, and find fulfillment through their journey, the people they meet, their travels, and personal accomplishments. The speaker believed "Riding Zone" embodied public service values by promoting sports, passion, ecological disciplines, and respect for nature. Having to constantly defend these values year after year to broadcasters was exhausting. The speaker felt hurt that the public service, which they considered the natural home for "Riding Zone," no longer supported it. This fueled their decision to reclaim their rights and go 100% on YouTube. They initially set a crowdfunding goal of 40,000 euros, which they now regret was too low, as the campaign ended up raising 120,000 euros – triple the original target. The initial 40,000 euros were secured within just two hours of launching the campaign at 5 PM. Beyond the financial success, the most impactful aspect was the overwhelming support and messages of affection from the audience and athletes, including former colleagues. A significant change during this transition was the departure of Tiga, the iconic host of "Riding Zone" for ten years, due to insufficient funds to pay her. This meant the speaker, previously a producer who preferred writing and implementing projects, had to step into the role of on-screen presenter. While their voice was known, their face was not. Stepping forward and sharing their story publicly led to an outpouring of love and messages from viewers who credited "Riding Zone" with inspiring them to start surfing, continue BMX, or enjoy sports as a family. This experience validated the speaker's belief that there was a vital role for "Riding Zone" to play. It also helped the speaker find a sense of purpose and belonging, realizing they were contributing something meaningful to people's lives, even if it wasn't curing cancer. They found happiness in their role, sharing their passion and feeling legitimate in their contribution to the world.