British cycling was dealt a heavy blow with the free-to-air Tour de France broadcast on ITV no longer possible from 2026 onwards. An exclusive deal that runs until 2030 between Tour de France organiser ASO and two streaming platforms Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Eurosport means that the world's biggest cycling race will be only available to paying subscribers.
However Cycling Weekly informs that there is still a beam of light as Warner Bros. Discovery is looking into possibilities to bring at least free-to-air highlights, which would ensure that even British cycling fans without subscription don't miss out completely on pictures from the event.
Sources pointed out that the broadcaster already shows a range of different sports on Quest, a free TV channel under their control, in Britain, which includes a Giro d’Italia highlights show. A spokesperson for WBD opted not to comment on the possibility of Quest as a host.
The 2025 edition of Tour de France will therefore be the last with the live ITV commentary from David Millar and Ned Boulting, as well as the expert insight and analysis provided from Gary Imlach, Chris Boardman, Matt Rendell, and Daniel Friebe before the new deal comes into effect.
"If I’m perfectly honest, It’s been coming. It’s not an entire surprise. I’ve seen the writing on the wall, and ultimately, if you step back and think about the economics of the way it works and everything, it’s not a huge surprise," said ITV commentator Ned Boulting at the time of the announcement.
"Obviously, though, we have one more year left: next year. Obviously, though, on a personal level, I am struggling to find the exact right words, but I’m a little bit shaken up by it because, it goes without saying, the race I’ve been fortunate enough, very privileged to get to know as well as I have done, for as long as I have done, feels like it’s moving away from me."