End credits for Stéphane Tortora, he who has experienced seven or eight based on graphic images and noises of big cars or slammed smashes and ovations from the public since the start of “Sport 6”. Just the title makes us think of the beginnings of M 6, then the small channel that was on the rise, launched in 1987. In September 1989, the Berlin Wall had not yet collapsed – it would be in November -, and the channel launched a sports program on the model of “Six minutes” – which became Six – a JT all in images. “Sport 6” has no presenter or set, but a series of images on the line, with a voice-over, and a more editorialized sequence, “Red card”, but without a face either.
It was already Stéphane Tortora who commented on these images effectively in September 1989. Thirty-six years later, he is still there. At least until the end of 2025. This December 31, the channel’s “19.45” announced his departure – without showing it in the image, of course – and the sports journalist tweeted right after on X: “Goodbye 2025! Goodbye M6! Long live 2026! His plans and his promises. Happy New Year to you! Thank you for your loyalty. See you soon. Elsewhere “.
At 63 years old, Stéphane Tortora, who was not thirty years old when he started on the air, has seen and met generations of athletes. He is close to many champions. The show also included interviews, although he never appeared openly either. Among the good moments, Andre Agassi saying a “Hi” in French to the camera. Lots of tennis, football, motorbikes.
Only the magazine “Turbo”, launched in 1987, is older on M 6. But its presenter Dominique Chapatte, 77, is slowly handing over the reins, only providing one program per month and leaving the other three weeklies to the new generation.
“Under no circumstances retirement. At all »
Broadcast on Sundays, Sport 6 will continue at least until the end of the season, according to the channel we contacted. But from this Sunday, it will no longer be with the voice of Stéphane Tortora. To our request for an interview, the latter responded with a brief and terse “No”. The sixty-year-old is more verbose on social networks. “Under no circumstances retirement. At all,” he replied on X to an Internet user who asked him about his future.
Close to Nicolas de Tavernost, who now directs the Ligue 1 + channel which broadcasts the French Football Championship, after having been the big boss of M 6 from its creation until 2024, the journalist has a gigantic address book in the world of sport. To be continued? Yes !
