Should le Tour 2012 be on ITV1 next year?

[Beebo]

It wont happen and I would rather it didnt. Eurosport and ITV 4 can dedicate time and resources to it, where as ITV1 and BBC1 have to provide content for the main stream.

If you ever read the BBC Points of View web site during Wimbledon week, the Olympics, World Cup, Snooker, Golf, (pick any sport event that runs longer than 2 hours) there is up roar in the Shires that Eastenders and Bargain hunt had to be moved to accommodate sport.

 

[oldroadman]

BY 2012 the TV service will be 100% digital feed, so freeview and all other platforms will be available to 99.99% of the population. Therefore there is the choice of many channels including ITV4. Using this channel - which is always one of those looking for content (repeats, golden oldies, etc) cycling is a perfect way of filling airtime. Quite what the costs are is another matter. They have a crew going around France, and pay for the live feed from France Televisions. The audience is good, plenty of ads, so revenue OK, and if it makes commercial sense then that's where it will probably stay.

 

[just jim]

Recording the programmes then fast forwarding through the ads made it a lot more enjoyable! What is that second and third podium for anyway? Anyone? Anyone?

 

[Ludwig]

There is more chance of John Prescott winning the 100 metres at The Olympics than the Tour de France being on ITV1. I like it as it is on Eurosport and would hate it to become populist with all the riffraff becoming interested in cycling.

 

[marinyork]

Am sure there are discussions just like this on a Crown Green Bowls forum after a particularly exciting tournament...

Pro cycling remains a minority interest in this country, and to expect them to show it on the mainstream channels is a bit optimistic. I think the BBC Sport website links tell quite a story in terms of how sport is 'ranked'in the UK:

Football Formula 1 Olympics Cricket Rugby Union Rugby League Tennis Golf Athletics Cycling MotoGP Boxing Snooker Horse Racing Disability Sport Other sport...

Indeed, although the BBC have changed it in recent years.

As the recent row over Scottish Golf and Football (Women's) World Cup showed, the BBC don't really have the air time.

On the other hand, the ratings are getting high enough to ask the question whether it should be housed somewhere else.

The ratings for ITV4 highlights were as follows:-
TDF Thursday 7th July 627,000
TDF Friday 8th July 608,000
TDF Wednesday 6th July 549,000
TDF Sunday 10th July 540,000
TDF Monday 4th July 521,000
TDF Tuesday 5th July 515,000

 

[NickM]

There is more chance of John Prescott winning the 100 metres at The Olympics than the Tour de France being on ITV1. I like it as it is on Eurosport and would hate it to become populist with all the riffraff becoming interested in cycling.

On the other hand, it might encourage dickwads like the one who told me yesterday that I "shouldn't be on the road" to keep their moronic opinions to themselves...

 

[oldroadman]

On the other hand, it might encourage dickwads like the one who told me yesterday that I "shouldn't be on the road" to keep their moronic opinions to themselves...

Nope. They wouldn't watch anyway. Too busy, off to the pub via the fag shop and hamburger joint! Nothing can be a sport unless a ball or small arrow and board are involved, didn't you realise?

 

[Sonofpear]

Indeed, although the BBC have changed it in recent years.

As the recent row over Scottish Golf and Football (Women's) World Cup showed, the BBC don't really have the air time.

On the other hand, the ratings are getting high enough to ask the question whether it should be housed somewhere else.

The ratings for ITV4 highlights were as follows:-
TDF Thursday 7th July 627,000
TDF Friday 8th July 608,000
TDF Wednesday 6th July 549,000
TDF Sunday 10th July 540,000
TDF Monday 4th July 521,000
TDF Tuesday 5th July 515,000

Just read somewhere that it was 1 million for the final stage

 

[tigger]

Does it really matter if its ITV1 or 4 to us cyclists anyway? Cycling is on the up, government and corporates are starting to want a piece of it as it fits the green agenda, but viewing figures will need to be well in the millions before ITV can take a risk on prime time. A few years yet at least I think. If it did move to ITV1 it would probably be on after 10.30 too - much the poorer for me.

 

[zimzum42]

Does it really matter if its ITV1 or 4 to us cyclists anyway? Cycling is on the up, government and corporates are starting to want a piece of it as it fits the green agenda, but viewing figures will need to be well in the millions before ITV can take a risk on prime time. A few years yet at least I think. If it did move to ITV1 it would probably be on after 10.30 too - much the poorer for me.

The tour is very not green. Huge train of vehicles following and preceding the riders. Loads of silly giveaways from the caravan. Multiple helicopters hovering over at all times. Looking at the pro season as a whole, it's multiplied many times, including everything being flown to Australia, USA, Qatar etc for the more far flung races...

 

[Paulus]

Can you imagine cash in the attic, bargain hunt, Doctors, and all that other dross that is on in the afternoons on BBC1 and ITV1 being moved for three weeks to accommodate the Tour? Letters would be wriitten to the Daily Mail and The Express by disgusted of Romford or Rainham. Can't see it happening. I enjoyed the ITV4 coverage, I know that Phil and Paul arn't to everyones taste, but I quite like the Gary Imlack introductions and Chris(I crash into sheep)Boardman chats.

 

[david1701]

rather it got more airtime on itv4 or bbc3/4 but that doesn't run during the day

 

[srw]

On the other hand, the ratings are getting high enough to ask the question whether it should be housed somewhere else.

The ratings for ITV4 highlights were as follows:-
TDF Thursday 7th July 627,000
TDF Friday 8th July 608,000
TDF Wednesday 6th July 549,000
TDF Sunday 10th July 540,000
TDF Monday 4th July 521,000
TDF Tuesday 5th July 515,000

...which put it outside the top 30 programmes on BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 or all other channels put together:
http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyTopProgrammesOverview?

 

[marinyork]

rather it got more airtime on itv4 or bbc3/4 but that doesn't run during the day

ITV 4 used to have it on their (temporary red button service). The beeb could do the same.

 

[marinyork]

Just read somewhere that it was 1 million for the final stage

Where I got the different figures from they aren't available yet, but will be soon enough. The figures are up on a few years ago.