2010 Versus TV Schedule

I’m optimistic universalsports continues to get even more races next year. They have a deal with the RCS so MSR and T-A maybe? Hopefully free of course and hopefully they will start broadcasting it live on their TV network.

I just hope that Universal does not start charging for coverage…

pais vasco — hopefully with commentary this year
giro (hello matt keenan, or maybe they’ll hire ant and brian?)
tour of missouri (if it happens)
vuelta
worlds (most likely the live stream w/o commentary, like this year; and the 2hr edited tv editions)

here’s hoping that maybe versus will live stream the TOC as well as the TDF

I’m a figure skating fan as well, and they’ve had great coverage this year. Events we haven’t seen in years, and complete coverage that we’ve never gotten before. Plus they covered Gymnastics nationals and worlds with wonderful coverage. Add in the Giro and the Vuelta, and you’ve got one of my absolute fave networks.

However, I know a lot of people don’t get the channel, so I’m glad VS continues to cover cycling as well, including the TdF. The more coverage, the better.

if your provider is not Comcast. They have some kind of stranglehold on both Versus and Universal sports, so if you have say, DirecTV like we do, and Comcast isn’t offered in your area like where we live, you’re SOL if you want to see cycling on TV in 2010.

They are dead to me.

The “Tour of Philadelphia” is actually the “International Championship” (sponsor to be determined).

I was hopeful that the promise of a “national network broadcast” for this race in 2010 would mean something along the lines of ABC, NBC, ESPN, etc., but that will not be the case.

I still run into people who say the only time they’ve seen pro cycling on TV was two years ago when the US Open was broadcast for two-and-a-half hours (opposite the Masters golf tournament) on NBC. Whatever that broadcast cost, the money was well spent.

… Versus explained that some races—the Giro in particular—are competitively bid for, with Versus not winning the bid for the Giro. They said they hoped to cover it in the future, but they couldn’t get the bid for the next few years.

There are lots of reasons why a network will or won’t cover a race. It’s all about money, of course, but it also has to do with exclusive rights, and such.

It’s probably a good thing that we have more than one network competing for cycling race coverage. Better than total disinterest, as we had in the USA in the pre-Lance years. I just hope that when Lance finally retires—for good—that TV coverage won’t retire.

As for my personal experience, I have Time Warner cable. Versus is on there for good, as far as I can tell. Unfortunately, they do not carry Universal Sports, even as an option, for which I would happily pay extra. At least not in my area.