Jump to content

Cycling on NBC

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cycling on NBC
Also known asNBC Sports Cycling
GenreMultiple-stage bicycle racing
Directed byKelly Atkinson[1]
StarringSee commentators section
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersDavid Michaels (coordinating producer)
Joel Felicio[2] (live producer)
Production locationsFrance and other countries
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time3 1/2 hours
Production companyNBC Sports
Original release
NetworkNBC
NBCSN
NBC Sports Gold
Peacock
USA Network[3]
Release2011 (2011)
Related

Cycling on NBC is the de facto name for broadcasts of multiple-stage bicycle races produced by NBC Sports,[4] the sports division of the NBC[5] television network. This includes broadcasts of the Tour de France,[6] Vuelta a España, UCI World Tour Championships, Tour of California, USA Pro Cycling Challenge,[7] and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.

Overview

[edit]

Coors Classic coverage

[edit]

In 1985, NBC broadcast the Coors International Bicycle Classic[8] as part of its anthology program Sportsworld.[9] Greg Lewis anchored NBC's coverage alongside Connie Carpenter and Alexi Grewal.[10]

Tour de Trump coverage

[edit]

From 1989 to 1990, NBC broadcast[11] the Tour de Trump,[12] which was a North American cycling stage race initially sponsored by businessman (and later U.S. President) Donald Trump.

For the very first edition in 1989, Dick Enberg[13] anchored[14] the coverage alongside Gary Gerould and analyst Clif Halsey.[15] Greg Lewis meanwhile, interviewed cyclists after the final stage. NBC would cover at least two weeks worth of action for two hours[16] each on Sunday afternoons[17] while ESPN otherwise, provided the bulk of the coverage.

The following year, NBC announced that it would commit to airing at least six hours[18] worth of the Tour de Trump race. This time, John Tesh anchored NBC's coverage alongside Phil Liggett.

Incidentally, the idea for the race was conceived by John Tesh, who had covered the 1987 Tour de France for CBS and on his return suggested holding a race in the United States to the basketball commentator and entrepreneur Billy Packer. Packer originally planned to call the race the Tour de Jersey. He approached representatives of casinos in Atlantic City for sponsorship, and Donald Trump offered to be the race's primary sponsor and Packer's business partner in the venture. It was Packer who suggested the Tour de Trump name.

Tour de France coverage

[edit]
See also: Tour_de_France § Broadcasting, and List of programs broadcast by NBCSN

In 1999, NBCSN,[19] then known as Outdoor Life Network (or OLN) acquired the U.S. broadcast rights to the Tour de France for US$3 million. Coverage of the Tour on OLN brought substantially greater viewership to the then fledgling channel, due in part to the then-growing popularity of American rider Lance Armstrong. In 2004, where Armstrong would aim for a record-breaking sixth straight Tour de France title, OLN would devote over 344 hours in July to coverage of the Tour, along with documentaries and other original programming surrounding the event – which was promoted through a US$20 million advertising campaign.[20]

Overall, while its coverage of the Tour de France helped OLN expand its carriage to over 60 million homes, rumors surrounding Armstrong's possible retirement from racing led to concerns over OLN's emphasis on him (to the point that some critics referred to OLN as standing for "Only Lance Network"),[21] with critics questioning whether the network could sustain itself without the viewership that Lance Armstrong's presence had brought to its coverage.[22]

Carriage of the Tour de France continued through OLN's retooling as a mainstream sports channel and rebranding as Versus.[23] In 2011, Versus owner Comcast acquired a majority stake in NBC Universal, and merged its sports cable networks with that company's NBC Sports division.[24][25][26] NBC Sports would continue to carry the Tour on Versus, later rebranded as the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN).[27] The 2015 Tour de France saw its highest ratings on NBCSN since 2010, with average viewership increased to 365,000 , and stage 8 having nearly a million viewers on NBC.[28]

Beginning in 2016, NBC began to stream additional coverage via a subscription service, including replays, the commercial-free world feed, and other second screen content. This app expanded into the "Cycling Pass" service on NBC Sports Gold in 2017, which would also include coverage of the UCI Road World Championships, Colorado Classic, and Volta a Catalunya.[29][30][31]

After the discontinuation of OLN's successor NBCSN at the end of 2021, linear television coverage of the Tour de France moved to other NBCUniversal cable networks such as USA Network and CNBC. NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock would also carry all stages .[32] On February 15, 2023, NBC Sports announced that it had renewed its media rights to broadcast the Tour de France through 2029. Beginning in 2024, cable simulcasts will be discontinued, with all stages becoming exclusive to Peacock, and occasional stages simulcast by NBC.[32]

CNBC's coverage

[edit]
Main article: NBC Sports on CNBC

In 2015, CNBC aired portions of the 2015 UCI Road Cycling World Championships.[33]

In 2020, CNBC aired Stage 14 and Stage 15 of the Tour de France.[34]

In 2022, CNBC aired stage 8 of the Paris–Nice.[35]

In 2022, CNBC aired portions of the Women's Tour de France.[36]

Commentators

[edit]
See also: List_of_sports_announcers § Cycling

Summer Olympics

[edit]
Main articles: NBC Olympic broadcasts and 2008 Summer Olympics on NBC
Year Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Field reporter(s)
1988 Gary Gerould[57] Brian Drebber[58] and Davis Phinney[59]
1992 John Tesh[60] (road cycling)
Phil Liggett (track cycling) 		Phil Liggett and Mark Gorski (road cycling)
Mark Gorski (track cycling) 		Al Trautwig (road cycling)
1996 Al Trautwig[61] Phil Liggett[62] and Paul Sherwen[63]
2000 Al Trautwig[64] (road cycling)
Phil Liggett[65] (track cycling and mountain biking) 		Paul Sherwen (road cycling)
Jessica Grieco[66] (track cycling)
2004 Pat Parnell
Steve Podborski[67] 		Paul Sherwen[68] Robbie Floyd
2008 Pat Parnell[69]
Craig Hummer 		Kenan Harkin[70]
Paul Sherwen[71] 		Marty Snider
2012 Steve Schlanger[72] (road)
Todd Harris[73] (track & BMX) 		Paul Sherwen[74] (road & track)
Jamie Bestwick[75] (BMX) 		Todd Harris[76]
2016 Paul Sherwen
 Bob Roll and Christian Vande Velde[77]
Chris Doyle (BMX) 		Steve Porino[78]
2020 Steve Schlanger[79]
Todd Harris (BMX) 		Bob Roll[80] and Christian Vande Velde
Chris Doyle (BMX) 		Steve Porino

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rings of Glory: Directing the Olympics". DGA.org. August 23, 2018.
  2. ^ Dreier, Fred (July 2, 2019). "Inside NBC's Tour de France television broadcast". Velo News.
  3. ^ "NBC SPORTS' LIVE COVERAGE OF THE 109TH TOUR DE FRANCE CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND ACROSS PEACOCK AND USA NETWORK". NBC Sports Press Group. July 14, 2022.
  4. ^ Ringrose, Fergal (July 10, 2017). "Live from Tour de France: NBC Sports Network tells story of Stage 7 to Nuits-Saint-Georges". Sports Video Group Europe.
  5. ^ Berenz, Ryan (June 30, 2011). "2011 Tour de France TV coverage on Versus and NBC". Channel Guide Magazine.
  6. ^ "Cycling". Archived from the original on 2014-01-12. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  7. ^ Henderson, Josh (June 12, 1992). "NBC adds coverage to Colorado's Pro Cycling Challenge". The Denver Post.
  8. ^ Zinn, Lennard (June 14, 2019). "Commentary: Honoring the Coors Classic". VeloNews.
  9. ^ "Retro: Chicago Sun, Sept 1, 1985". Radio Discussions. August 31, 2011.
  10. ^ "Alexi Grewal Is Preparing for a Cycling Encore : American Rider Figures Time Has Come to Shake Up European Community". Los Angeles Times. July 7, 1985.
  11. ^ Hogan, Kevin (April 10, 2016). "The Strange Tale of Donald Trump's 1989 Biking Extravaganza". Politico.
  12. ^ Moran, Malcolm (May 5, 1989). "What's in a Name? It's Tour de Trump". The New York Times.
  13. ^ "1989 PRESS PHOTO DICK ENBERG, HOST NBC SPORST COVERAGE OF TOUR DE TRUMP RACE". Historic Images.
  14. ^ Weisbord, Barry (December 22, 2017). "From the Publisher: Racing Loses a Great Friend". Thoroughbred Daily News.
  15. ^ Spy Sep 1989. September 1989. p. 102.
  16. ^ "Dayton Daily News from Dayton, Ohio on May 17, 1989 · 18". Newspapers. May 17, 1989.
  17. ^ Sarni, Jim (May 5, 1989). "ERR BAWL BLAME NBA, NOT TBS". Sun-Sentinel.
  18. ^ Nye, Peter (May 3, 1990). "WHEELS TURN IN TOUR DE TRUMP". The Washington Post.
  19. ^ Dreier, Fred (January 22, 2021). "Tour de France's U.S. television future in doubt as NBC Sports Network set to shutter". Velo News.
  20. ^ Bernstien, Andy. "No word could describe the Tour de France, so OLN made one up". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  21. ^ Sandomir, Richard (July 7, 2006). "OLN Sizing Up Impact of the Post-Lance Era". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  22. ^ Deitsch, Richard (July 30, 2004). "Life after Lance: What happens to OLN once Armstrong finally retires from cycling?". CNNSI. Archived from the original on August 4, 2004. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  23. ^ Moss, Linda. "Comcast To Launch Three HD Nets, Including E!". Multichannel News. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  24. ^ Goetzl, David (May 4, 2011). "NBC Sports Brand Going Local". MediaPost. Archived from the original on May 9, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  25. ^ Friedman, Wayne (May 9, 2011). "NBC Steps Up Branding For Comcast Sports Nets". MediaPost. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  26. ^ John Ourand. "SBJ: Exit Versus, enter the NBC Sports Network". The Sporting News. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  27. ^ "Live from Tour de France: NBC Sports Network tells story of Stage 7 to Nuits-Saint-Georges". SVG Europe. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  28. ^ Lewis, Jon (2015-07-29). "Tour de France Most-Watched on NBCSN Since 2010". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  29. ^ Ketchum, Karen Hogan (2017-07-17). "NBC Sports Gold Cycling Pass 'Super-Serves' Fans Throughout Tour de France". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  30. ^ "“NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA” TO BE RE-BRANDED AS THE NBC SPORTS APP", NBC Sports Group Pressbox
  31. ^ VeloNews.com (2017-06-09). "NBC Sports Gold adds 15 races to streaming service". Velo. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  32. ^ a b Lucia, Joe (February 15, 2023). "NBC Sports renews with Tour de France through 2029, with all stages exclusively airing on Peacock in 2024". Awful Announcing. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  33. ^ "NBC SPORTS' COVERAGE OF THE 107TH TOUR DE FRANCE CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND WITH STAGES 14 & 15 LIVE ON CNBC, NBC SPORTS GOLD, AND PEACOCK". Nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  34. ^ "FINAL 2015 UCI ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION THIS WEEKEND ON NBCSN, CNBC & UNIVERSAL SPORTS NETWORK". NBC Sports Pressbox. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  35. ^ "NBC Sports Presents Live Cycling Coverage of Every Stage of the 2022 Paris-Nice, Beginning This Sunday, March 6 at 9:10 A.m. Et Live on Peacock". 3 March 2022.
  36. ^ "NBC Sports to Present Women's Tour de France, the Richest & Most Prestigious Stage Race in Women's Cycling, Beginning in July 2022 on Peacock & CNBC". 8 March 2022.
  37. ^ "NBC SPORTS PRESENTS LIVE COVERAGE OF THE 107TH TOUR DE FRANCE ACROSS NBCSN, NBC SPORTS GOLD & PEACOCK BEGINNING THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 29". 24 August 2020.
  38. ^ "NBC SPORTS PRESENTS LIVE COVERAGE OF THE 108TH TOUR DE FRANCE ACROSS NBC, NBCSN & PEACOCK, BEGINNING THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 26". 22 June 2021.
  39. ^ "PAUL BURMEISTER". NBC Sports Group Press Box.
  40. ^ "Paul Burmeister".
  41. ^ "NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS LIVE AND PRIMETIME COVERAGE OF THE 103RD TOUR DE FRANCE BEGINNING THIS SATURDAY, JULY 2 AT 6 A.M. ET ON NBCSN". NBC Sports Press Box. June 28, 2016.
  42. ^ Malach, Pat (June 22, 2019). "Chris Horner joins NBC's Tour de France broadcast team". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  43. ^ "Press Release". www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/sports/versus. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
  44. ^ "Todd Harris". NBC Sports Group. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  45. ^ "NBC Releases Olympics Announcer List". Akron Beacon Journal. February 9, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  46. ^ "Las Vegas Super Sprint to Premiere on Universal Sports on Oct. 1". USA Triathlon. September 23, 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  47. ^ "Inaugural La Course by Le Tour de France to be shown live on USN". Bicycle Retailer. July 24, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  48. ^ "Outdoors Inc". Outdoors Inc. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  49. ^ "NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS LIVE AND PRIMETIME COVERAGE OF THE 101st TOUR DE FRANCE". NBC Sports Group Press Box. July 2, 2014.
  50. ^ "NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS LIVE AND PRIMETIME COVERAGE OF THE 100th TOUR DE FRANCE". NBC Sports Group Press Box.
  51. ^ "NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS LIVE AND PRIMETIME COVERAGE OF THE 102ND TOUR DE FRANCE BEGINNING THIS SAT., JULY 4 AT 7 AM ET ON NBCSN". NBC Sports Group Press Box. June 30, 2015.
  52. ^ Tomalaris, Michael (15 June 2017). "It's a new era for SBS and the Tour de France". SBS Cycling Central. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  53. ^ "SBS makes changes to Tour de France coverage". News.com.au. News Corp Australia. Australian Associated Press. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  54. ^ "Christian Vande Velde".
  55. ^ Kraus, Rainer (2016). Die Welt hat Pedale und Freunde, die sie treten (in German). Bielefeld: Delius Klasing. p. 149. ISBN 978-3-667-10706-0.
  56. ^ "Laura Winter | Cycling UK". www.cyclinguk.org. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  57. ^ Stewart, Larry (March 31, 1988). "Team NBC Announces Its Lineup for the Olympic Games at Seoul". Los Angeles Times.
  58. ^ Sarni, Jim (September 17, 1988). "THE TORCH IS PASSED ABILITY TO HANDLE SPORTS AND NEWS MAKES GUMBLE THE PERFECT ANCHOR". Sun-Sentinel.
  59. ^ "GAMES OF THE XXIV OLYMPIAD, THE {1988 SEOUL OLYMPICS}: DAY 11 {PART 2 OF 5} (TV)". The Paley Center for Media.
  60. ^ Sarni, Jim (July 23, 1992). "PRIME TIME, ANY TIME: OLYMPICS ON 24 HOURS". Sun-Sentinel.
  61. ^ Stewart, Larry (July 22, 1996). "Despite Flaws, a Fair Performance". Los Angeles Times.
  62. ^ "GAMES OF THE XXVI OLYMPIAD, THE {1996 ATLANTA OLYMPICS}: DAY 13 {PART 3 OF 5} (TV)". The Paley Center of Media.
  63. ^ "Former pro cyclist, broadcaster Paul Sherwen dies at 62". ESPN. December 2, 2018.
  64. ^ "AL TRAUTWIG – NBC Sports Pressbox". NBC Sports Group Press Box.
  65. ^ "GAMES OF THE XXVII OLYMPIAD, THE {2000 SYDNEY OLYMPICS}: DAY 9 {PART 1 OF 4} (TV)". The Paley Center for Media.
  66. ^ "GAMES OF THE XXVII OLYMPIAD, THE {2000 SYDNEY OLYMPICS}: DAY 6 {PART 1 OF 4} (TV)". The Paley Center for Media.
  67. ^ "TABLE TENNIS? JUDO? NBC HAS AN EXPERT". Sun-Sentinel. August 13, 2004.
  68. ^ "GAMES OF THE XXVIII OLYMPIAD, THE {2004 ATHENS OLYMPICS}: DAY 5 {PART 2} (TV)". The Paley Center for Media.
  69. ^ Frager, Ray (July 16, 2008). "Your NBC Olympics lineup". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017.
  70. ^ "Press Release-- NBC Announcers for Beijing". Around the Rings. July 12, 2021.
  71. ^ "An evening with Phil Liggett & Paul Sherwen". Brown Paper Tickets.
  72. ^ Caeser, Dan (July 27, 2012). "St. Louisan Schlanger fills many roles for NBC's Olympics coverage". STLtoday.com.
  73. ^ "GAMES OF THE XXX OLYMPIAD, THE {2012 LONDON OLYMPICS}: DAY 14 {PART 3} (TV)". The Paley Center for Media.
  74. ^ Hipes, Patrick (June 28, 2018). "More NBC Olympics Announcers Than Athletes?". Deadline.
  75. ^ "JAMIE BESTWICK – NBC Sports Pressbox". NBC Sports Group Pressbox.
  76. ^ "NBC ANNOUNCES TALENT ROSTER FOR LONDON OLYMPICS – 115 COMMENTATORS IN ALL". NBC Sports Press Group. June 28, 2012.
  77. ^ "CHRISTIAN VANDE VELDE – NBC Sports Pressbox". NBC Sports Group Pressbox.
  78. ^ "RECORD 170 COMMENTATORS JOIN NBC OLYMPICS' COVERAGE OF THE GAMES OF THE XXXI OLYMPIAD FROM RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL Opening Ceremony This Friday, August 5 on NBC". NBC Sports Group Pressbox. August 1, 2016.
  79. ^ "RECORD 180 COMMENTATORS JOIN NBC OLYMPICS' COVERAGE OF THE GAMES OF THE XXXII OLYMPIAD FROM TOKYO, JAPAN". NBC Sports Group Press Box. July 20, 2021.
  80. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony and Day 1 TV and Announcer Schedule". Programming Insider. July 23, 2021.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=Cycling_on_NBC&oldid=1258507778"