Major update announced after ITV loses broadcast rights to sport event after 26 years. The broadcasting shake-up around one of the biggest annual sporting events in the world continues. ITV has also lost the rights to broadcast Tour de France highlights.
The television sports rights landscape has been shifting considerably of late, with ITV becoming the latest broadcaster to relinquish a long-held event. The broadcaster had been the home of Tour de France coverage in the UK since 2001 before losing the rights ahead of the most recent edition.
In recent years, ITV had provided terrestrial highlights and live coverage while Eurosport, whose output has since been absorbed into TNT Sports, broadcast every stage live. Doubts had been raised over whether any free-to-air coverage would be available in 2026, but it has now been confirmed Channel 5 will step in to take over highlights duties from ITV.
The arrangement forms part of a broader deal with TNT for highlights across all the cycling Grand Tours, with further coverage set to follow from 2027. Channel 5 won't be limited to highlights alone next year either.
Le Grand Départ - which will hold a stage in Powys next year - for both the men's and women's Tour de France will be staged in the UK. And Channel 5 will broadcast live coverage as part of its agreement, with TNT also airing the events live.
According to a statement from TNT Sports, the new partnership encompasses the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes (2026–2028), Vuelta a España (2026–2028), and Giro d'Italia (2027–2029). Under the terms of the deal, Channel 5 will air daily highlights on free-to-air television.
"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," said 5 President Reemah Sakaan. "Our daily highlights show for the Tour de France will be available to everyone at 7pm each evening this July and we'll also have daily highlights through both the Vuelta a Espana and the Giro d'Italia for the next three years, plus next year we'll have live coverage of the Tour de France's historic return to the UK."
Le Grand Départ has not been staged on British soil since 2014 when Leeds had the honour of hosting the opening stages. In 2027, the event will move to Edinburgh before the French city of Reims takes over proceedings in 2028.
The 2026 edition of the race gets underway on July 4 in Barcelona. Live broadcasting rights will be offered across TNT Sports' channels and on the HBO Max streaming platform, which took over from discovery+ as the dedicated streaming home of TNT Sports in the UK earlier this year.
TNT Sports owner Warner Bros Discovery acquired the rights following more than two decades of ITV coverage. The agreement struck with Channel 5 has helped ease considerable concerns surrounding the event's long-term terrestrial television future.
"I think you need to have a free-to-air product [for the Tour de France] and there will be a free-to-air product," WBD executive vice president of production Scott Young said in May. "It could entail having a partner that will show parts of the Tour de France to a free audience, but we're just working through how much [of the race], what duration, frequency, we're working through all the elements of that."
Young released a subsequent statement following the latest development, adding: "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. Cycling is one of the most compelling sports in the world, featuring extraordinary athletes and unforgettable moments, and it's important that those stories are shared with the widest possible audience."
