by ITV’s coverage of the Tour de France is set to end after next season after Warner Bros. Discovery struck an exclusive rights deal with organizers ASO and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The deal was part of a larger package that extended Discovery+/Eurosport’s commitment to broadcasting cycling events as rights were agreed across Europe until 2030. It also includes exclusive rights for the Tour de France Femmes in Ireland and Norway and exclusive rights for the men’s and women’s Vuelta a España cycling races in Norway and the Netherlands.
While Discovery et al are understandably pleased with this development, it comes at the expense of ITV’s Tour de France coverage – and the Tour’s free-to-air coverage entirely in the UK (free-to-air coverage continues in Europe).
The ITV show’s stalwart Matt Rendell reacted to the news on Twitter:
I think you’ve heard the news that 2025 will be ITV’s final Tour de France. Surprised (no free TV broadcast for London 2027??). Slightly shocked. No Gary presenting the tour. Hard to believe.
— Matt Rendell @mattrendell@indieweb.social (@mrendell) October 25, 2024
Rendell also added that this was not only the live show, but also the end of the evening’s highlight program.
While ITV has yet to comment on the matter, GCN’s Dan Lloyd has reported that ITV hasn’t even made an offer for the rights:
As far as I know, ITV has not applied for the live rights, nor has any other British free-to-air broadcaster.
Also sounds like WBD will go to great lengths to ensure that long-form highlights are available for free viewing somewhere. https://t.co/1q6BaB7Ifo
— Daniel Lloyd (@daniellloyd1) October 25, 2024
This page will be updated with further details and consequences if/when it comes through.
We’ll always have the theme song…
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