C.TV Giro: Should I?

by 72andSunny on May 8, 2008 1:04 PM EDT

I've got the yearly sub, going on year two, and despite the occasional technical glitch, I've been pretty happy with it: I now watch SO MUCH more cycling than ever before --- most of it as it happens!

However, something rankles about kicking down an additional US$30 just for the Giro...

Milan-San Remo and Tirreno-Adriatico are over, so I'd essentially be paying just for the Giro ... Now, it is my favorite race of the year, BUT there's something that sticks in my craw about coughing up additional dough.

I mean, I could wait a week (or two) and spend the same money on the DVD.

So I'm throwing it out there: who's watching the Giro on C.TV and what spurred your decision-making process?

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I'm probably

not the best person to ask, but real-time video is essential to me. Even if I weren't running this site, being able to watch the race in some detail, and then read about the reactions from the racers and from our community while it's still fresh -- that's a world of difference from watching it a month later.

The $30 DVD will be cut up a lot; the $70 DVD is where you get as-live stage coverage. The former -- you can figure out how the race was won. But following the race for 22 straight days gets you much further into the details that make the Giro so unique.

"If writing too much about the classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris Fontecchio on May 8, 2008 1:56 PM EDT reply actions

RAI

is RAI going to be streaming live as they did last year?

by Hons on May 8, 2008 2:16 PM EDT reply actions

I hope so

They'll be my lifeline at work, along with our live thread.

"Resistance Is Futile. You Will Be Assimilated"

by Drew on May 8, 2008 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

In for a penny, in for a pound

I bought the whole package b/c I love cycling and want to support it, but the purchase price includes the right to bitch like hell when c.tv doesn't deliver.

by Cyclingrush on May 8, 2008 3:02 PM EDT reply actions

New Subscription?

I hadn't looked at cycling.tv in a while and they have added the Giro for $30. I got a discount on the premium package since they charged me twice.

I could save that money or put it back into cycling.tv (likely the latter).

It looks like cycling.tv has no Sunday coverage, so it might be wise to see what stages are on Sunday to avoid being frustrated in a few weeks.

by John.. on May 8, 2008 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

Waiting to see what other coverage is available...

http://cyclingfans.com/ usually comes though with something.

From the cyclingfans.com site…

“The 2008 Giro d’Italia, the season’s first Grand Tour, starts on Saturday. For the 4th consecutive year, we will be listing available internet TV webcasts, live video streams, live audio feeds, and live tickers and graphics for this great three-week event. We’ll have the schedules, start and finish times, start lists and so forth. As always, we will update our “Live Guides” throughout each stage every day of the race. We will also once again be listing post-race video clips and archives. So even if you cannot watch the race live, you can watch video clip highlights as available. And starting today, we’ll have daily photos from our collaborating cycling photographer, the great Fotoreporter Sirotti, already on site for the pre-race photo opportunities.”

by dwilson on May 9, 2008 8:47 AM EDT reply actions

Sunday

Versus has the Sunday coverage I believe. My problem is that I can’t watch most stages live, so I need ctv for the as-live later in the day.

by d rod on May 9, 2008 9:47 AM EDT reply actions

CTV

I bought a subscription when cycling.tv first came out, but dropped it after having issues with Het Volk. The streaming when I first purchased it was ok during live events and so-so during on-demand. Within the past year it flipped so that now the live coverage is a crap shoot to even bring up coverage and on-demand has never really been a problem. If they could only get the same streaming as the Adobe tour tracker, then it would be great. For now, though, I’d rather listen to audio and ticker than screw with Cycling.TV’s poor live coverage.

by spokejunky on May 9, 2008 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

CTV

I’m a big supporter of it as I can’t live without it. But, this year has been extremely fustrating trying to long in once coverage has started. But once I’m in I have no complaints. I love the as-live replay. Plus, I really enjoy anthony and Brian’s work.

by Cyclingfan on May 9, 2008 10:48 AM EDT reply actions