4 ms·
That was true up until the last couple seasons (around 2020). As of today, it is finally easily available cheaply via streaming. - Peacock TV streaming servic
by jacurtis 3y ago
That was true up until the last couple seasons (around 2020).
As of today, it is finally easily available cheaply via streaming.
- Peacock TV streaming service which is $5 a month (I got a $20 annual plan deal a few weeks before TdF)
- GCN+ Streaming service which is $8 a month (or $50 a year)
The GCN stream is available globally. I think it is also available on France24 and Sky Sports' streaming app.
If this feels like bad distribution to those reading this, you have no idea how far we have come. TdF used to be on very obscure cable channels only, like Outdoor Network that required very premium satellite plans as it was only included as a specialty channel and not available via many cable or satellite providers, making it entirely inaccessible to most people.
NBC eventually moved it to NBC Sports, which made it better. It was available through almost all providers now and available on more basic packages.
We finally got our first streaming options (meaning you didn't need to have a cable/sattelite subscription) about 6 or so years ago, but it was on a terrible app that had terrible infrastructure and it cost $80-120 per TdF season!
So with mainstream streaming, it is finally pretty accessible, just not discoverable. If you are looking to watch it, you can get it. It's also finally cheap enough for more people to justify it without needing to be a mega-fan. Again, on peacock it is only $5 a month. If you sign up and cancel immediately starting and following the TdF you can watch it all in one billing cycle. So that's pretty fair.
Also, to NBC's credit, they are trying to make it more accessible. The first stage was actually on the main NBC channel, which I think is a first. Stages 2-7 have been on USA Network, which is on all basic cable packages. Stages 8+ now require Peacock. It's obviously not perfect, but progress deserves to be recognized!
- Photogrammaton 3y agoRight you are. In the 90s, ESPN covered each stage with a nicely edited but short recap, about 30 minutes each as I recall. Not much, but better than nothing. The race has since moved around, and coverage of each stage has expanded--which, incidentally, coincides with the gradual expansion of cable channels and streaming.
- meetingthrower 3y agoWe've been watching TDF 20-30 min highlights on Peacock. It's great to get them but unfortunately they haven't bothered to edit them in a dramatic way. It is literally just splicing together the 5 hour feed, so it makes for some choppy viewing. You don't really get the "gist" of the stage unless you pay really close attention.
- jacv 3y agoIf you haven't already, take a look at the official Tour's highlights (only 8-10min though) - I find the broadcast and editing better than NBC's. They're usually decently quick to come out too post-stage. Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSpycUnuU0IVF7gGIhGojhg https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSpycUnuU0IVF7gGIhGojhg Yesterday's (Stage 7; 8 will probably drop in an hour or so): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMpFcgyXl8s&list=PLg3WzTG3LfYaBMYiOCHI8GG-eXzFe676h&index=18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMpFcgyXl8s&list=PLg3WzTG3Lf...