And so it begins again!
itv4 (28e) has live coverage every day for the first time. Start times are between 1500 and 1700 BST, with highlights daily at 1900-2000 BST (except today when it’s at 2000), repeated the following day at 1300.
France Television is the home broadcaster and you can watch live tour coverage on France 2 (5w) most days starting at or before 1420 CET. There’s often a short programme earlier at 1250 or 1300 CET for the village départ on France 3 (5w). There’s a coverage guide in French on the France Television site. Generally, the pictures are what you’ll see used as a base by all the other broadcasters.
Italian channel RAI Due (13e) has the live stages again this year, with highlights later on RAI Sport píu (13e). Earlier in the day, RAI Sport píu is showing the Giro d’Italia femmini if you’d like to watch that.
Either the Spanish-language channels suck, my TV guides suck or both. I can’t find any free-to-air coverage from Spain at all.
In German, Eurosport (19e) has live coverage daily about the same time. Once again, expect it to have added features like Planet Armstrong: Season 2, interviews, guest summarisers and slightly irritating competitions scrolling across the bottom of the screen.
ARD and ZDF (13e and 19e) have come back to their senses after a couple of bad years. This year they’re showing live coverage, but still starting about an hour later in the stage than some broadcasters (1530 CET or so). Maybe next year will see full coverage.
Have you spotted any more free-to-air coverage? Any particularly good (or bad) presentations of the Tour? What do you love or hate about the shows? Leave a comment and praise Phil or lament Duffy Duck if you like…
