Tour de France TV rights

[mjr]

, but I find it surprising that more folk don't subscribe.

I don't. Most real fans won't fund Warners building ever-bigger paywalls around the sport.

[TrevA]

Real fans will already have access to Eurosport, either through a TV package or via D+. That’s because they won’t just want to watch the Tour, they’ll want to watch the other Grand Tours and the Classics and other races. It’s the casual or occasional viewer that won’t subscribe to D+.

All of my cycling club mates have Eurosport, it’s usually the main topic of conversation on club rides.

[mattheus]

Real fans

!!!!!!!!!

[mjr]

Real fans will already have access to Eurosport, either through a TV package or via D+. That’s because they won’t just want to watch the Tour, they’ll want to watch the other Grand Tours and the Classics and other races. It’s the casual or occasional viewer that won’t subscribe to D+.

What rot! Real fans are watching the host broadcasters, or youtube and things like LRCP, because they foresaw exactly what Warner Bros were attempting.

All of my cycling club mates have Eurosport, it’s usually the main topic of conversation on club rides.

Then you're all amongst those to blame for this end of an era and British Cycling's future decline. We thank you appropriately(!)

[TrevA]

Real fans are watching the host broadcasters? Like France2, Sporza or RAI? How do you do that with English commentary? Is there some sorcery that I’m not aware of?

[TrevA]

Not yet a done deal, but it’s looking like there is going to be a free to air TdF highlights programme on one of the Discovery controlled free TV channels, possibly Quest, from 2026 onwards. Likely to be a rehash of the Eurosport coverage, with the same presenting team - Orla, Adam, Sean and Co, which unfortunately includes Carlton Kirby, but you could always watch with the sound turned down .

[mjr]

Real fans are watching the host broadcasters? Like France2, Sporza or RAI? How do you do that with English commentary? Is there some sorcery that I’m not aware of?

Understanding other languages is not sorcery! Commentary tends not to be that complex language anyway and half its meaning is in identifying riders by name and highlighting who to watch when. Detail of the style of Ned and Dave is rare.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Not yet a done deal, but it’s looking like there is going to be a free to air TdF highlights programme on one of the Discovery controlled free TV channels, possibly Quest, from 2026 onwards.

Not great for people whose transmitter doesn't relay Quest, sadly!

[TrevA]

Not yet a done deal, but it’s looking like there is going to be a free to air TdF highlights programme on one of the Discovery controlled free TV channels, possibly Quest, from 2026 onwards.

Not great for people whose transmitter doesn't relay Quest, sadly!

You can watch Quest over the internet. You can watch it on Discovery Plus without having to sign up for a paid monthly subscription.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Ah, that’s good to know - thank you. We usually get D+ anyway to watch the Giro but my mum would like to watch the Tour!

[brianleach]

Not yet a done deal, but it’s looking like there is going to be a free to air TdF highlights programme on one of the Discovery controlled free TV channels, possibly Quest

There already is but it is not a patch on the ITV highlights. As I recall they just clip together the "best bits" of the race. I only watched it a couple of times so it may have improved but it didn't inspire me to watch again. The all round nature of the ITV highlights will be sadly missed.

[mattheus]

Real fans are watching the host broadcasters? Like France2, Sporza or RAI? How do you do that with English commentary? Is there some sorcery that I’m not aware of?

Understanding other languages is not sorcery! Commentary tends not to be that complex language anyway and half its meaning is in identifying riders by name and highlighting who to watch when. Detail of the style of Ned and Dave is rare.

You probably don't hear much detail if you only know names and numbers in the language!
;-)

[mjr]

Real fans are watching the host broadcasters? Like France2, Sporza or RAI? How do you do that with English commentary? Is there some sorcery that I’m not aware of?

Understanding other languages is not sorcery! Commentary tends not to be that complex language anyway and half its meaning is in identifying riders by name and highlighting who to watch when. Detail of the style of Ned and Dave is rare.

You probably don't hear much detail if you only know names and numbers in the language!
;-)

Never too old to learn!

[pjclinch]

Real fans are watching the host broadcasters? Like France2, Sporza or RAI? How do you do that with English commentary? Is there some sorcery that I’m not aware of?

Understanding other languages is not sorcery! Commentary tends not to be that complex language anyway and half its meaning is in identifying riders by name and highlighting who to watch when. Detail of the style of Ned and Dave is rare.

You probably don't hear much detail if you only know names and numbers in the language!
;-)

However, you do get the important detail that you're not listening to Carlton Kirby!

Pete.

[mattheus]

...

However, you do get the important detail that you're not listening to Carlton Kirby!

Pete.

When I hear his voice and turn off Youtube (or whatever) to escape it, I take solace from the fact that King Kelly is being paid thousands-per-hour to listen to him.

I mean, he must be ... right?