Commentary and coverage on HBO MAX (formerly TNT, Discovery, EuroSport etc)

[Netserk]

does anyone have the multi-screen option still available as replay? I can only find the 2025 ones on disco+.

no , only live

 

[CyclistAbi]

UK cycling fans may still be able to watch parts of the Tour de France for free this summer

Warner Bros. Discovery VP of Production strongly hints at 'free-to-air product' and addresses loss of ad-free coverage

www.cyclingnews.com

Looks bad.

 

[CyclistAbi]

finally confirmed deal with the giro

https://presse.warnerbrosdiscovery.dk/post/folg-jonas-vingegaard-og-giro-d-italia-eksklusivt-pa-hbo-max-eur

Eurosport is the best.

 

[awavey]

"broadcaster decided not to renew their rights deal for the 2026 race and beyond, "


Finally

 

[awavey]

Free-to-watch Tour on the telly in the UK? I would n't hold your breath for more then "select highlights" at some ungodly hour (and with lots of ads). WBD's Executive Vice President of Production, Scott Young, speaks,
https://www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cyc...s-of-the-tour-de-france-for-free-this-summer/

A commerical sports broadcaster who gets subscribers to pay up front for an ads-free-service, should rightly get dragged over the coals for still stuffing ads into their broadcasts.

Theyd simply argue the subs would be even higher without them.

We've never had FTA ad free coverage of the Tour in the UK, so it always seems an odd level to judge against.

 

[hayneplane]

does anyone have the multi-screen option still available as replay? I can only find the 2025 ones on disco+.

It was there the first day or two on demand but since then only during the stage. A further reduction of the service as you can no longer watch any ad free version on catchup so could miss attacks/crashes etc as they happened.

 

[search]

It was there the first day or two on demand but since then only during the stage.

quite a shame, as it's pretty useful to check what happened away from the cameras afterwards. Live it's a bit too busy for my liking

 

[Hugh Januss]

quite a shame, as it's pretty useful to check what happened away from the cameras afterwards. Live it's a bit too busy for my liking

It's still available, but apparently only live.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

How is there a commentary team with Rob Hatch, Adam Blythe , Sean Kelly, etc


And another with Carlton Kirby, Brian Smith, Declan Quigley , etc

Where are both broadcasting from if the first is TNT in UK ??

 

[CyclistAbi]

AFAIK it's mostly done remotely, so broadcasting from London or from wherever you live.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

thanks but i meant which station ...not location ?

 

[search]

I may be able to check tomorrow, if it's a boring stage. I would assume they are on Eurosport International, for commentary without pre-race stuff, side of the road reports, interviews etc.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Wait Carlton has been doing comms the entire time?

Never hear him any more, I had just assumed they were slowly ushering him out the door

 

[CyclistAbi]

thanks but i meant which station ...not location ?

I assume that it's the same group scheduled for some race for both Eurosport and TNT. Would be surprised if they would utilise two teams of commentators for the same race and do it separately.

 

[Wyndbrook]

I assume that it's the same group scheduled for some race for both Eurosport and TNT. Would be surprised if they would utilise two teams of commentators for the same race and do it separately.

I think Kirby is doing the world feed and Hatch the UK centric one. Not sure who gets what or how it works.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I think Kirby is doing the world feed and Hatch the UK centric one. Not sure who gets what or how it works.

Could be, still here i found some reference:

United Kingdom - TNT/Discovery+ Tour de France commentators

In the commentary box for Discovery+/TNT is commentator Rob Hatch, who has been on TNT's cycling coverage for a long time, and shares the lead commentary duty with another long-time Eurosport commentator Carlton Kirby, interchanging throughout the day. They are also joined by four-time green jersey winner Sean Kelly, 12-time stage winner Robbie McEwen, and former British champion Adam Blythe. There's also the voice of Jonathan Harris-Bass (@jhbfoodiecyclist) from HQ to talk about food and other stuff when the action lulls.

The analysis show titled The Breakaway either side of the race is hosted by journalist and presenter (and Rouleur columnist) Orla Chennaoui. She is joined every day by McEwen, Blythe, and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Dani Rowe in the studio to discuss the daily happenings.

On the ground at the race, former pro Hannah Walker and Anders Mieke, interview riders before and after each stage. On the back of the motorbike, following the peloton is Grand Tour stage winner Jens Voigt, former pro Matt Stephens, and Blythe, at different points in the three-week race.

Who are the Tour de France commentators?

Find out who's behind the mic and reporting on the ground for the respective Tour de France broadcasters

www.rouleur.cc

That seems consistent with Eurosport.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I found some references for Carlton like:

I'm working on all of the Grand Tours. Giro for Eurosport International... so continental Europe and beyond. The Tour I am on TNT although only the midsection of each day. Vuelta back to Eurosport International.
Hope you can find me!

And then:

Why did Carlton not comment on Stage 2,3 .. of the Giro but did on the first? I need my CK!!! I’m in the USA watching on HBO Max

So i guess it indeed is not always just one commentator group involved. On what you will get, it's like a box of chocolate.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

It seems as if Carlton is somewhat demoted. He always did the GTs with Sean Kelly but he is now on the international feed , which I find hard to understand who that is to....maybe flobikes and US audiences ?

Rob Hatch, Sean Kelly, Adam Blythe & Robbie MCEwen and Matt Stephens are on the main TNT feed to UK & Ireland but maybe also North America ?? Who knows

It makes no sense to me to have 2 very different English language feeds. Carlton has Brian Smith and Declan Quigly with him in the box

But then there is yet another English language feed with Ned Boulting and a previous cyclist. I think its Jacopo Guarnieri. They maybe be the Giro English language feed ??

Why are there 3 English language feeds and yet its impossible for fans to get any without paying £33 a month

Cycling is truly insane

 

[Eyeballs Out]

The Giro has always been a Kirby-Free race on Eurosport/TNT. If he's not sharing the Tour with Hatch then that would definitely be a demotion but I won't get my hopes up just yet.

 

[yaco]

Boulting and Guarnieri do the world feed.

 

[CyclistAbi]

It would be rather strange if only UK would be left out and wouldn't get Carlton in time for the Tour. After all it's your countryman and a living legend.

 

[search]

I just checked most of the English speaking options, but none of them had Kirby:

Eurosport Germany, ENG sound option: ambient sound
Eurosport Israel etc: Hatch
TNT UK: Hatch
TruTV USA: Hatch
Flobikes CA: Boulting & Guarnieri
RUSH Sports Caribbean: Boulting & Guarnieri
Supersport SA: Boulting & Guarnieri
SPOTV PH: Boulting & Guarnieri
SBS AU: Keenan & Gerrans

so yeah, no idea who he commentates for. Kirby himself on X said to ask HBO support for more information.

 

[search]

Kirby is commentating on the Disco+ Multi-Screen option now

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I just checked most of the English speaking options, but none of them had Kirby:

Eurosport Germany, ENG sound option: ambient sound
Eurosport Israel etc: Hatch
TNT UK: Hatch
TruTV USA: Hatch
Flobikes CA: Boulting & Guarnieri
RUSH Sports Caribbean: Boulting & Guarnieri
Supersport SA: Boulting & Guarnieri
SPOTV PH: Boulting & Guarnieri
SBS AU: Keenan & Gerrans

so yeah, no idea who he commentates for. Kirby himself on X said to ask HBO support for more information.

The Tiz streams have had him throughout the race, so presumably it must be possible to watch it somewhere.

 

[RedheadDane]

The T** streams have had him throughout the race, so presumably it must be possible to watch it somewhere.

Now that's a demotion!