2 hours ago
Paramount-owned UK broadcaster 5 has agreed a woody pinch Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports to go nan UK location of free-TV highlights of nan Tour de France. It takes complete sum of nan world’s biggest motorcycle title from ITV.
TNT Sports has nan exclusive authorities to nan race, nan astir prestigious arena successful nan cycling calendar. The woody pinch 5 (fka ‘Channel 5’) intends nan free-TV transmission gets Tour de France highlights arsenic good arsenic those from nan Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain) and Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy). That gives it a cleanable expanse of cycling’s 3 expansive tours.
Historically, Channel 4 showed highlights while afloat stages and broader sum was pinch Eurosport, which has been branded TNT Sports successful nan UK. ITV past took complete free-to-air coverage, but opted not to bid for nan authorities successful nan astir caller tender process, allowing TNT Sports to onshore nan afloat package.
TNT’s slick sum is held successful precocious respect among cycling fans, but galore person been unhappy astir a whopping value hike that followed Eurosport’s rebrand arsenic TNT Sports. Cycling events were disposable for £6.99 ($9.38) connected nan Eurosport Player. Post rebrand, cycling fans person to stump up £30.99 ($41.56) a period to watch nan large events.
TNT said location was a competitory tender process for nan authorities package. The 5 move sees 2 soon-to-be firm siblings subordinate forces. 5 is owned by Paramount, which is successful nan process of merging pinch Warner Bros. Discovery, proprietor of TNT Sports.
The free-TV sum connected 5 originates pinch highlights of nan Tour de France’s Grand Départ from Barcelona connected July 4. It will beryllium fronted by starring sports presenter and journalist Rebecca Charlton.
Crucially, nan multiyear woody intends Channel 5 has 2027 highlights locked in. It will beryllium a landmark twelvemonth for British cycling, arsenic nan Tour de France’s Grand Départ returns to nan UK and stages will beryllium held crossed Scotland, England and Wales. 5 will person unrecorded sum of nan Grand Départ.
Reemah Sakaan, President, 5, said: “The Grand Tours are nan astir prestigious cycling events successful nan world, watched and adored by millions, and we are delighted that 5 will beryllium their caller free-to-air location successful nan UK.”
Scott Young, EVP, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, added: “Expanding scope and engaging caller audiences crossed our authorities portfolio remains a cardinal strategical priority, and partnerships specified arsenic this play an important domiciled successful achieving that ambition.”
Specifically, 5 will person free-to-air highlights successful nan UK for nan Tour de France (2026–2028), Vuelta a España (2026–2028), and Giro d’Italia (2027–2029).
