Down to the Wire with Cycling.TV

by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 22, 2007 1:53 PM EDT in News

So I just ran a battery of tests to see if there is any way to connect to Cycling.TV's Versus channel, like we're expecting to do in less than two days' time for the year's inaugural monument, Milan-San Remo. I tried the following:

Logging into the site and looking for the channel. No go.

Typing "versus" into the URL instead of "cycling" or "premium". Maybe the portal exists but they don't have the button on the main page? Nope.

Logging into the beta and clicking on "Versus" in the left sidebar? Error message.

So despite Anthony's well-intended assurances, right now there is no apparent way to watch Milan-San Remo on Cycling.tv. Maybe they will fix the Versus channel in time, or maybe they'll move the broadcast over into the Premium or standard portal instead. But I don't really want to consider the other possibility. I don't have RAI on the sattelite, and don't like the prospect of fighting with all of North America to log in on Eurosport.

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This could be tricky

We may have to depend on someone who has the dish to keep the live thread going. Any takers?

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on Mar 22, 2007 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

cyclingfans.com

will have a list of various feeds, so if the English Eurosport feed is bogged, we should at least have the option of watching the race w/o commentary.

I'm holding out hope that a VS. channel will magically appear on my ctv screen in time for the action on Saturday.

Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste

by Koppenberg on Mar 22, 2007 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

Versus Channel

I have been told i am covering MSR on saturday...

www.braveheartfund.com

by Brian Smith on Mar 22, 2007 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks, Brian

That's great to hear.

Now, I just hope Anthony doesn't pick someone on my VDS team for the win. Talk about the kiss of death! (Just kidding, Anthony! ;) )

Seriously, I'm very excited to hear that cycling.tv plans to cover Milan-San Remo. I think you and Anthony do a fantastic job. Any idea when we'll be able to sign up for it?

Eleven Nation Army: Ready to get rich off the other teams' lunch money

by Susie Hartigan on Mar 22, 2007 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

No doubt

It's clear Cycling.TV has the rights to broadcast. It's not clear the tech side has gotten it together yet. Vai! Vai!

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 22, 2007 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Tech...

I will leave the experts to the tech side. As for Anthony he will choose Boonen, Possato, Petacchi and Bettini if that helps :-)

I'm going for.......

Fantastic job! It's a priveledge to have a great audience.

Ciao.

www.braveheartfund.com

by Brian Smith on Mar 22, 2007 6:00 PM EDT reply actions

Well that does it

for Boonen, Pozzato, Petacchi and Bettini. The curse has spoken: get your bets down on Paolini and Freire, folks!

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 22, 2007 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

tech experts?

cycling.tv has tech experts? since when?

by Lili on Mar 22, 2007 8:25 PM EDT reply actions

Versus Channel

This is just in from CTV

We are implementing a new payment method as we speak. Please keep an eye on the channel.

by CobblesorBust on Mar 23, 2007 9:32 AM EDT reply actions

Milan San Remo - Versus channel

Hello, well I am afraid after Brian and I being so bullish earlier in the week I am the bearer of some bad news. Late last night, Versus informed Cycling.tv that for specifc legal reasons relating to distribution of content, we cannot broadcast Milan San Remo live on the Versus channel tomorrow. We have tried to find a solution to this over the last few hours but at the moment Versus are not in a legal position to broadcast it live on their new channel on Cycling.tv. I know this disappoints you all - believe me, Brian and I are all ready to go and this is completely out of Cycling.tv control.

We will however be showing the race on demand over the weekend. More details as I get them.

by anthony mccrossan on Mar 23, 2007 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks Anthony

I know you guys are trying and must be very disappointed. We'll muddle through with other sources, and get back to business next week in Belgium.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 23, 2007 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

You still get to hang out in San Remo though

right? So at least there's an upside for you.

No worries, we'll still have our live thread going (join in if you like) and for those of us who get Versus on cable we can watch the coverage Sunday night.

Thanks for the update Anthony, sorry it fell through.

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on Mar 23, 2007 10:46 AM EDT reply actions

i hate to blow up anthony and brian's spot, but

there has been enough info for us armchair detectives to realize that the guys are in the ctv studios MOST of the time. i dont want to ruin christmas or anything, but brian would be interviewing or anthony for that matter, SOME cyclists if they were actually AT the races. and truthfully, they never have claimed to be at the races, so i am NOT accusing them of lying, just letting people like drew believe what they will. it obviously is a cost reducing measure and i, for one applaud my 2 favorite british men for running this awesome form of interference. anyone who'd like to argue my point, watch the tour of britan. THATS what they do when the are AT the races. besides, my friends at comcast (owners of VS.) have never seen any cycling.tv broadcasting booths at any of these races.
cheers to the best internet television station now and forever!
maybe in a few years, after millions are watching, we will see them at the races.

by djebel on Mar 23, 2007 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh Drew

My sweet little country mouse. Sure, they're all in "San Remo." Except it's the San Remo casino in Vegas where we stayed for my bachelor party.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 24, 2007 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I still like picturing them in San Remo

in my mind..........perhaps interviewing the Easter Bunny.

Hell, I figured since they went to ToC maybe their budget included MSR.

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on Mar 24, 2007 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions

somebody just shoot versus PLEASE

and leave the North American cycling coverage to Cycling.tv who obviously seem to want to be there.

by bbnaz on Mar 23, 2007 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

Anyone understand why

Cycling.tv decided to take on Versus as a partner in the first place? Perhaps Giro rights were cost prohibitive for CTV without a partner, which I think was why the Versus channel on CTV came to be in the first place. But I'm beginning to wonder if CTV isn't regretting that association. That is, if CTV wouldn't have had a better chance of getting rights to T-A and M-S-R if they were going it alone.

by Scott. on Mar 23, 2007 3:38 PM EDT reply actions

Dunno but...

this is becoming a nightmare. If Versus is buying rights and insisting on exclusivity, only to stab us in the back (or maybe the thorax) by showing tape-delay and preventing live broadcasting of any kind... then I officially fucking hate them.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 23, 2007 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

CTV

My interpretation is that Versus have the rights....CTV partnered with them in order to show the events. I hope for all we can work out something.

www.braveheartfund.com

by Brian Smith on Mar 23, 2007 6:36 PM EDT reply actions

Us too

But if it doesn't work out I think we'd all pony up your bail money Brian if you punched the crap out of a Versus executive. Y'know, if you get the chance.

We've got enough attorneys on this site that would defend you for nothing (right Chris?).

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on Mar 24, 2007 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

OLN/VS = (insert word of choice)

OLN, in its glory days as the "home of professional cycling" (anybody remember when we had real coverage plus cycling shows on Thursday nights?) was able to secure the rights to broadcast the major cycling events in North America. Briefly we saw all three grand tours live until the Only Lance Network killed off any possibility of any coverage than the tour. Still last year they did let CTV cover the races on line, which an additional premium was happily paid, but this year it seems that so many different entities with power are playing pissing games at the expense of those of us who just want to see cycling........and I am NOT including CTV in this group. Their issues are minor compared to UCI, ASO, and whatever entity controls the Italian races, let alone the Spanish.

bah humbug. I don't have dish and don't want it. Like I said above, somebody just shoot the greedy sods who are buggering up the works.

by bbnaz on Mar 24, 2007 1:16 AM EDT reply actions