open letter to giro broadcasters:

beyond that, I won’t complain ;-). I mean, it was announced a few days ago that Versus wasn’t covering it (not that Versus helps me anyway in Canada, but more likely that CTV could have tagged on to that if Versus did have coverage) – there’s a fanpost about how RAI-International TV (that some of us get on cable/digital cable) doesn’t seem to be showing the Giro this year (or at least, not the opening day – that’s the only day of their schedule during the Giro that’s been released so far).

And yesterday, I posted in another thread in response to “And RCS say that 300,000 in the US have already signed up to follow the web coverage.” My question was, what web coverage – cycling.tv has conflicting info posted and lists Giro coverage as “to be confirmed” and times “TBA” which isn’t very reassuring – they have 2 links dated 2008 but that have the 2009 Giro or other race dates listed (that I had to search for) that state:

Please note that the internet rights for the Giro d’Italia are still under negotiation with the rights owners. We are working as swiftly as possible to confirm this event and hope to bring you confirmation in the very near future.
Because of this, we advise prospective customers interested in the current live races (and the races so far this year) to invest in the Premium package. This purchase will be refunded if you choose to upgrade to a Gold or Silver subscription at a later date (NB no later than May 21st). In the event that we are unable to carry the Giro d’Italia we will arrange compensation for Gold North America and Italian Pro Cycling package subscribers.

of getting better – at least Craig Hummer, and even Trautwig are better than the ‘American talking heads’ of the past.

PL could let one of the other guys do the play-by-play, It’s annoying when they cover the race in tape delay, and he still makes these gaffes.

But, the drug coverage and specifically the repeated defense for Landis, just such a bad move, really damaged both BR and PS’s credibility for me. Voting for cover-up, continuing the culture, and then how could anyone ask a young person to even watch along, let alone get into bike racing?

BR: “I think the French cooked the whole thing up.”

Anyways, this went on for some time, always offensive, not ‘balanced,’ including PS weighing in as a chemist to negate Landis’ test results. Bike racing: the dirtiest sport, where even the announcers are chemical scientists.

Anyways, before working on improving the announcers, most of whom I really like, the sport has to clean up enough to be explainable to the casual fan without having a huge doping conversation, and that is not happening, at least not this year.

I do hope the Giro is on RAI – that is my favorite bicycling coverage, for sure.

But if it is not, then maybe that Universal Sports can pick it up – they are showing repeats of Pais Vasco everyday, along with classic tri, and MTB, so maybe they are interested.

Perhaps the weak market for the GIRO in US just doesn’t help RAI in other, more important negotiations…or something.

..
Just saying