ITV4 to broadcast live Tour De France coverage

ITV 4 · Sport Shows · 04 Jan 2009 · by: ITV Press Centre

ITV Sport can today announce a new deal with Amaury Sport Organisation for the rights to broadcast live coverage of the Tour de France between 2010 and 2013. ITV4 currently broadcasts daily highlights of the Tour de France and some live coverage, but the new deal will see daily live coverage broadcast on the channel for the first time.

The 3,500 kilometre Tour is widely considered to be one of the most gruelling sporting events in the world. In addition to the live coverage an hour long highlights programme will be shown on ITV4 each day throughout the race which runs for three weeks each July.  The Tour de France will also be simulcast free-to-air on ITV.com which offers viewers the opportunity to catch up on the coverage and highlights clips. Mobile transmissions of the race will also be broadcast via ITV Mobile.

The live rights to the Tour extends ITV4’s cycling coverage which also includes the Tour of Britain and Tour of Ireland. Full daily highlights of the Tour de France, Tour of Britain and Tour of Ireland were broadcast throughout each race on the channel last year.

ITV4’s growing sport portfolio also includes tennis, boxing, darts, Guinness Premiership Rugby and UEFA Cup and Champions League football.

Dave Fewings, ITV4 controller said: “ITV4’s cycling coverage has been very well received in previous years and I’m delighted that we’re now able to extend our live coverage of the world’s most famous cycling event. After Mark Cavendish’s spectacular stage wins in 2008 I’m sure we’ll have more British success to follow live on ITV4 in the years to come.”