SBS may have lost its motoring darling to Nine but it has renewed the jewel in the cycling crown.
Tour de France has been secured with the owners and organisers, Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), until 2017.
“2010 marks SBS’s 20th anniversary for its Tour de France coverage so the extension of our contract for another seven years is a significant way to celebrate this milestone,” said SBS Director of Content, Matt Campbell.
As the official exclusive live Australian broadcaster, SBS will also include online and mobile platforms.
The Tour de France adds to the broadcaster’s stable of cycling events including Santos Tour Down Under, Paris-Roubaix, Giro D’Italia and La Vuelta a España.
Meanwhile World Cup rights holder FIFA has announced it will grant accreditation solely to local rights holders
The ABC, Seven, Nine, TEN and FOX Sports still intended to send crews to South Africa. SBS says some footage will still be available to other networks under Fair Dealing provisions.
Great news. I’ve grown to love watching Le Tour since it’s been on SBS. Phil Liggett’s and Paul Sherwen’s commentary is excellent. The live coverage on SBS2 is a bonus. I’m looking forward to winter – a month of the FIFA World CUP followed by 3 weeks of the best cycling in the world.
With everyone else shut out of the World Cup, I guess SBS’ sports watermark will turn into a lovely ‘blockmark’ for a couple of weeks? WIN viewers know what I’m talking about…
Great news – the SBS team do a fantastic job, I just wish the 30 minute highlights show was extended to 1 hour.
Awesomeness. Thank goodness its staying on a channel that does justice to sports coverage.
Thank goodness for that!! I thought Nine might decide to go “shopping” again!! It isn’t the tour if it isn’t on SBS (a bit like the World Cup actually).
Not privvy to that kind of info, Jackson.
Fantastic, they have great coverage of the tour, especially with sbs2 now. David, do you know if ONE or any others tried to secure the rights?
SBS coverage of the Tour makes those cold winter nights during July much more bearable. Bring it on!
Great news for local fans of Tour de France. And with the 2013 Ashes cricket series (to be held in England) secured by Nine, SBS can now concentrate on covering the Tour.
Cool – SBS does quite a good job with the Tour. I’m now a fan.