Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is known to be “exploring” the choice of exhibiting free-to-air highlights of the Tour de France within the UK, after ITV misplaced the rights to exhibiting the French Grand Tour from 2026.
The information of WBD’s “exclusivity” deal on Friday morning put the way forward for free-to-air Tour protection doubtful; it’s now all however confirmed that 2025 would be the final 12 months for ITV’s flagship biking programme. ITV declined to remark.
The Tour is at the moment proven on ITV4 and Eurosport/Discovery+ within the UK, however the deal means it would now solely be on the latter from 2026, which is a paid-for channel.
There are not any concrete plans but for the protection of the 2026 Tour de France – and different bike races run by its organiser, ASO – however WBD is regarded as exploring the chance for a free-to-air highlights present for the brand new rights interval, which runs till 2030.
What format this is able to take, nonetheless, is unknown as but, with it absolutely being a departure from the Tour being proven, no less than in a highlights bundle, on a free channel for the primary time since UK Tour protection started in 1987. Since 2010, each stage has been proven dwell on ITV4, a free-to-air channel within the UK.
It’s thought that ITV had the chance to resume its settlement, with ASO’s broadcast rights organised by means of the European Broadcast Union (EBU), however this has not come to cross.
WBD has sub-licensed the rights although the EBU, and the choice within the UK stands in stark distinction with free-to-air protection renewals introduced on Friday in Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. The Tour is on French free-to-air tv, maybe clearly.
ITV’s Tour protection was produced by VSquared TV till 2024. Its is helmed by Gary Imlach alongside Chris Boardman and Pete Kennaugh, with commentary from Ned Boulting and David Millar, and perception from Matt Rendell and Daniel Friebe.
Rendell posted on X: “I suppose you’ll have heard the information, that 2025 is to be ITV’s final Tour de France. Shocked (no free-to-air for London 2027??). Barely in shock. No Gary presenting the Tour. Exhausting to imagine.
“Not simply Gary: a number of different individuals are synonymous with Channel 4/ITV’s protection. Talking personally, I’ve had run. Nonetheless, there’s that heady feeling of muted panic over earnings that grew to become acquainted throughout Covid. I’ll try to put it off till August 2025.“
It’s the newest upheaval for viewers within the UK, after GCN+ closed on the finish of final season.
