UTV Ireland and Irish Cycling Coverage on Irish TV.

michael196

I reckon that the advent of UTV entering the Irish TV market could be very positive for Irish Cycling. ITV carry the three major tours each year in addition to the tour of Britain and the Halford Series. UTV are opening regional offices in Dublin Limerick and Cork. UTV have a commitment to provide 10% locally produced It is now up to clubs that promote events coupled with / partnered with / backed by Cycling Ireland, to make the representations to UTV for local / national coverage of our major cycling events such as the Ring Of kerry cycle, the RAS, etc. We have the basic infrastructure in place with irish companies in place that film events off motorbikes ,in broadcast HD quality. At the end of the day this is what sponsors seek in sponsoring races and sportives. National events such as the Ring of Kerry Cycle, the An Post RAS, the An Post series of Sportives all deserve to take their place in recognition of Life in Ireland in this decade. Flicking the local paper , we read pages and pages of soccor/ gaa from every tiny local GAA club. To have a national TV station pick up coverage of major cycling events in Ireland would be a well deserved break of the TV media starvation of irish cycling in recent years.

Slo_Rida

A highlights show of the bigger stage races would be great too.

Elmo

michael196 wrote: »

I reckon that the advent of UTV entering the Irish TV market could be very positive for Irish Cycling. ITV carry the three major tours each year in addition to the tour of Britain and the Halford Series. UTV are opening regional offices in Dublin Limerick and Cork. UTV have a commitment to provide 10% locally produced It is now up to clubs that promote events coupled with / partnered with / backed by Cycling Ireland, to make the representations to UTV for local / national coverage of our major cycling events such as the Ring Of kerry cycle, the RAS, etc. We have the basic infrastructure in place with irish companies in place that film events off motorbikes ,in broadcast HD quality. At the end of the day this is what sponsors seek in sponsoring races and sportives. National events such as the Ring of Kerry Cycle, the An Post RAS, the An Post series of Sportives all deserve to take their place in recognition of Life in Ireland in this decade. Flicking the local paper , we read pages and pages of soccor/ gaa from every tiny local GAA club. To have a national TV station pick up coverage of major cycling events in Ireland would be a well deserved break of the TV media starvation of irish cycling in recent years.

UTV have also said that they won't be investing in sports, unless they see it as commercial viable. They haven't had local live sport for NI in nearly 10 years, much of it is covered by BBC NI. TV3 were very very slow to even look at local sports bar the odd Soccer Friendly and then under contract with the FAI to cover Eircom League (at the time) as part of a deal with Sky Sport for World Cup Qualifiers (this eventually fell through). It wasn't until the late 2000's when they took a look at GAA Championships.

cunavalos

michael196 wrote: »

I reckon that the advent of UTV entering the Irish TV market could be very positive for Irish Cycling. ITV carry the three major tours each year in addition to the tour of Britain and the Halford Series. UTV are opening regional offices in Dublin Limerick and Cork. UTV have a commitment to provide 10% locally produced It is now up to clubs that promote events coupled with / partnered with / backed by Cycling Ireland, to make the representations to UTV for local / national coverage of our major cycling events such as the Ring Of kerry cycle, the RAS, etc. We have the basic infrastructure in place with irish companies in place that film events off motorbikes ,in broadcast HD quality. At the end of the day this is what sponsors seek in sponsoring races and sportives. National events such as the Ring of Kerry Cycle, the An Post RAS, the An Post series of Sportives all deserve to take their place in recognition of Life in Ireland in this decade. Flicking the local paper , we read pages and pages of soccor/ gaa from every tiny local GAA club. To have a national TV station pick up coverage of major cycling events in Ireland would be a well deserved break of the TV media starvation of irish cycling in recent years.

Whatever about stage races, would there be any real interest in watching a highlights package of these type of events on television. The only people that may be interested are those that took part and realistically although these may run into the thousands, this would only account account for a tiny potential viewership which would not attract sponsors.

The best comparison is the lack of interest in any tv network carrying any coverage of the dublin marathon (highlights or live coverage) as they are not prepared to absorb the costs without a major sponsor.

You have to appreciate there is still a large disconnect between people who like cycling as a past time and leisure pursuit and those who are fans of the sport.

Junior

ITV have had the rights to the classics in the UK for the last good few years and haven't broadcast them. It's only with Wiggins and Froome have they realised what an audience they have, I can't see UTV suddenly splashing cash on anything with such a small niche market as Irish Cycling.

Elmo

michael196 wrote: »

UTV have a commitment to provide 10% locally produced

UTV have a commitment to have 10% of its home productions produced by Independent Producers rather than in-house. E.g. if they produce 1hour of news each day an average 6mins must be produced by independent producers or 42mins per week.