ITV has lost the rights to broadcast Tour de France highlights after 26 years, with Channel 5 stepping in to take over from 2026. The broadcaster had been the home of Tour de France coverage in the UK since 2001, but the rights were acquired by Warner Bros Discovery, which owns TNT Sports.
Under a new deal with TNT Sports, Channel 5 will air daily highlights of the Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, Vuelta a España, and Giro d'Italia. The agreement covers the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes from 2026 to 2028, the Vuelta a España from 2026 to 2028, and the Giro d'Italia from 2027 to 2029.
In addition to highlights, Channel 5 will broadcast live coverage of Le Grand Départ in 2026, which includes stages in Powys, Wales, and Barcelona, Spain. TNT Sports will also air the events live on its channels and the HBO Max streaming platform.
Reemah Sakaan, President of Channel 5, said: 'The Grand Tours are the most prestigious cycling events in the world, watched and adored by millions, and we are delighted that 5 will be their new free-to-air home in the UK.'
Warner Bros Discovery executive vice president Scott Young added: 'By combining a strong free-to-air highlights offering with our comprehensive live coverage, we are delivering unprecedented access to the sport across every platform.'
