Starting this weekend, the NBC Sports Group will cover the Tour de France. Coverage of the Tour has been a signature event for the network that was originally known as Outdoor Life Network, then OLN, then Versus and now NBC Sports Network.
All 21 stages of the 100th Tour will be aired live either on NBC or NBC Sports Network. They will also be shown online at NBCSports.com and via NBC’s Tour de France mobile app.
The great Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen will call the live cycling action. Steve Schlanger and Carolyn Manno will provide reports from the course. Todd Harris will host primetime coverage which will provide enhanced looks at the day’s events.
In addition, NBC will have Steve Porino on a motorcycle who will report within the cyclists in a feature called “Inside the Race.” This is not unique to US coverage of the Tour de France. This was done in the early 1990’s when ABC Sports had the rights to the Tour and had Beth Ruyak riding a motorcycle following Greg LeMond when he was the main US hopeful. Reading NBC’s press release, it does not appear the network is taking credit for this feature, although it would not have surprised me.
Here’s what NBC is saying about its coverage which begins in earnest this Saturday.
NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS LIVE AND PRIMETIME COVERAGE OF THE 100th TOUR DE FRANCE
All 21 Stages Live on NBC or NBC Sports Network Plus Digitally via NBC Sports Tour de France Live
Debut of Unprecedented ‘Inside-the-Race’ Reporter on Motorcycle
Live Race Coverage Starts Saturday, June 29, at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network
Tour Primetime Show Every Night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports NetworkNEW YORK – June 25, 2013 – NBC Sports Group, the exclusive rights holder of Tour de France coverage in the U.S., will present live and primetime coverage of each stage of the 100th Tour de France, the world’s most prestigious and grueling cycling race, on NBC, NBC Sports Network, NBC Sports Tour de France Live and NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile apps. Live coverage of the Tour de France begins on NBC Sports Network Saturday, June 29, at 7:30 a.m. ET, and continues each night at 8 p.m. ET with the Tour Primetime show featuring a look at the day’s most compelling action with new analysis, interviews, enhanced perspectives and updates on ongoing stories.
New to the coverage is an unprecedented ‘Inside-the-Race’ commentator on motorcycle providing first-hand reports and insight from the course.
NBC Sports Group’s coverage features:
- All 21 of the stages live on NBC or NBC Sports Network plus NBC Sports Tour de France Live online and NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile apps;
- NBC Sports Network as the primary home of the Tour de France, offering live coverage nearly every day of the race, and Tour Primetime, a nightly studio show from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. ET, through the race’s entirety;
- The nightly studio show airing from 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network will take a look at the day’s stage with comprehensive analysis, insights and the most compelling storylines. Highlighting Tour Primetime will be a full replay of the day’s exciting race action complemented by fresh, post-race interviews with riders, telestrator analysis, and strategy segments.
- NBC coverage of Stage 2 (Bastia to Ajaccio) on Sunday, June 30, and live coverage of Stage 8 (Castres to Ax 3 Domaines) on Saturday, July 6, plus a special show on Sunday, July 28 recapping the final stages of the epic race.
COMMENTATORS
For the first time, NBC Sports Group’s coverage will feature reporting from the road via ‘Inside-the-Race’ correspondent Steve Porino, who will report and offer updates on race situations from an unprecedented point of view aboard a motorcycle on the race course. ‘Inside-the-Race’ is an innovation from NBC Sports Group to bring fans closer to the action. This unique perspective debuted with NBC’s ‘Inside-the-Glass’ reporter on its NHL telecasts in 2006 and was followed by its ‘Between-the-Benches’ soccer coverage.
Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, the voices of cycling, will call the race action for the live shows with reporters Steve Schlanger and Carolyn Manno. Todd Harris will host nightly studio coverage with analysts Bob Roll and Scott Moninger.
PRODUCTION
NBC Sports Network will utilize several production features, including a pointer feature which will easily identify and focus on one rider in the peloton; exclusive, in-depth profiles and features on teams and riders; and an onscreen predicted time for the peloton riders who are trying to catch the leading riders.
DIGITAL COVERAGE
NBC SPORTS TOUR DE FRANCE LIVE AND NBC SPORTS TOUR DE FRANCE LIVE MOBILE: NBC Sports Group will surround its on-air coverage with the NBC Sports Tour de France Live, cycling content online at NBCSports.com, and through the NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile app. The network will offer users two premium-subscription products which will give fans a multi-platform, all-encompassing viewing experience to the Tour.
NBC Sports Tour de France Live offers live streaming video of every stage online in full HD, with the ability to pause, rewind and slow-mo the video. While watching live coverage, viewers will also have access to a live GPS tracking map to follow the riders’ progress or to see an enhanced interactive map for each stage. Also, subscribers can personalize their Tour experience by choosing their favorite riders and teams to track throughout the Tour. To experience the Tour de France on-the-go, fans can also separately purchase the NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile app, which is available for iPhone and iPad, as well as Android devices. All the features of the NBCSports.com online experience will be mirrored in the NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile app, including live video of every stage, and the app is sold separately from the online product. Stage 8, which will air live on NBC, will also be streamed live for free, on NBCSports.com.
Additional elements available to cycling fans at NBCSports.com and through the mobile app, are listed below.
Before the Tour:
- Stage-by-stage descriptions and previews, featuring historical stage and technical information and travelogue vignettes
- Breakdown of top contenders
- Historical top 10 lists
- Look back at the best of the 2012 Tour de France
During the Tour:
- Full stage replays
- Recaps and highlights of each stage
- Route previews, course and stage maps, elevation profiles and stage descriptions
- Interviews with the top riders
- Live stage results and detailed standings
- Rider profiles by country and team
- Live news stream during every stage
- Photo slideshows
- Tour de France Twitter stream, which will showcase the top race authorities, including riders, analysts, officials and fans
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can also keep up with the Tour de France through NBC Sports Group’s social media platforms throughout the race.
Content will include:
- Behind-the-Scenes and News: Fans can receive exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, interviews, video clips, up-to-date news reports and stories from around the cycling world through the NBC Sports Cycling Facebook page and @NBCSNCycling on Twitter.
Telecast Schedule (subject to change, all times ET):
Date Time Coverage Network Sat., June 29 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 1: Porto-Vecchio to Bastia (LIVE) NBCSN Sat., June 29 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 1: Porto-Vecchio to Bastia NBCSN Sun., June 30 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 2: Bastia to Ajaccio (LIVE) NBCSN Sun., June 30 12:30 p.m. -2:30 p.m. Stage 2: Bastia to Ajaccio NBC Sun., June 30 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 2: Bastia to Ajaccio NBCSN Mon., July 1 6:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 3: Ajaccio to Calvi (LIVE) NBCSN Mon., July 1 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 3: Ajaccio to Calvi NBCSN Tues., July 2 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 4: Nice to Nice (LIVE) NBCSN Tues., July 2 8 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Stage 4: Nice to Nice NBCSN Wed., July 3 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 5: Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseille (LIVE) NBCSN Wed., July 3 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 5: Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseille NBCSN Thurs., July 4 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 6: Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier (LIVE) NBCSN Thurs., July 4 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 6: Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier NBCSN Fri., July 5 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 7: Montepellier to Albi (LIVE) NBCSN Fri., July 5 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 7: Montepellier to Albi NBCSN Sat., July 6 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Stage 8: Castres to Ax 3 Domaines (LIVE) NBC Sat., July 6 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 8: Castres to Ax 3 Domaines NBCSN Sun., July 7 6:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Stage 9: Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre (LIVE) NBCSN Sun., July 7 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 9: Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre NBCSN Mon., July 8 8 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Rest Day NBCSN Tues., July 9 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 10: Saint-Gildas-des-Bois to Sain-Malo (LIVE) NBCSN Tues., July 9 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 10: Saint-Gildas-des-Bois to Sain-Malo NBCSN Wed., July 10 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 11: Avranches to Mont-Saint-Michel (LIVE) NBCSN Wed., July 10 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 11: Avranches to Mont-Saint-Michel NBCSN Thurs., July 11 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 12: Fougères to Tours (LIVE) NBCSN Thurs., July 11 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 12: Fougères to Tours NBCSN Fri., July 12 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 13: Tours to Saint-Amand-Montrond (LIVE) NBCSN Fri., July 12 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 13: Tours to Saint-Amand-Montrond NBCSN Sat., July 13 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 14: Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule to Lyon (LIVE) NBCSN Sat., July 13 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 14: Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule to Lyon NBCSN Sun., July 14 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 15: Givors to Mont Ventoux (LIVE) NBCSN Sun., July 14 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 15: Givors to Mont Ventoux NBCSN Mon., July 15 8 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Rest Day NBCSN Tues., July 16 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 16: Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap (LIVE) NBCSN Tues., July 16 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 16: Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap NBCSN Wed., July 17 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 17: Embrun to Chorges (LIVE) NBCSN Wed., July 17 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 17: Embrun to Chorges NBCSN Thurs., July 18 6 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 18: Gap to Alpe-d’Huez (LIVE) NBCSN Thurs., July 18 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 18: Gap to Alpe-d’Huez NBCSN Fri., July 19 6 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 19: Bourg-d’Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand (LIVE) NBCSN Fri., July 19 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 19: Bourg-d’Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand NBCSN Sat., July 20 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Stage 20: Annecy to Annecy-Semonz (LIVE) NBCSN Sat., July 20 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 20: Annecy to Annecy-Semonz NBCSN Sun., July 21 11:30a.m.-4 p.m. Stage 21: Versailles to Paris Champs Élysées (LIVE) NBCSN Sun., July 21 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Stage 21: Versailles to Paris Champs Élysées NBCSN Sun., July 28 12:30 pm.-1:30 p.m. Recap Show NBC
There you have it.
