Tour Series and Tour of Britain Set for Broadcast on ITV in 2009
Added: (Fri Apr 17 2009)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Second Year Running Broadcaster shows support for Best of British Cycling
London, 17 April 2009 � ITV viewers will be able to enjoy for the second year, nightly broadcasts of highlights of the Tour of Britain professional cycle race. In addition, ITV will also broadcast highlights from the new Tour Series professional city centre cycle race series.
ITV will broadcast highlights of the Tour Series, starting from 21 May to 25 June, the day after each event from 7pm � 8pm on ITV4. The Tour of Britain, taking place from 12 � 19 September, will benefit from hourly highlights every evening on ITV4 between 7pm � 8pm, plus repeats the following day.
Dave Fewings, ITV4 controller, said "The Tour of Britain is a great fit for ITV4, complimenting our portfolio of sport including Tour de France. The Tour of Britain was very well received by viewers last year, and I'm delighted that we are broadcasting highlights of the 2009 event."
�It is great to continue this partnership with ITV this year, building upon the success and momentum achieved in 2008. The appreciation from viewers has been extremely encouraging,� said Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of The Tour of Britain. �This is also a great opportunity for us, together with ITV, to help promote the interests of our regional partners especially now that we have a daily, hour long platform on which to do this.�
SweetSpot, the Tour of Britain and Tour Series organisers have retained the broadcast sponsorship rights to all the programming of both events and are actively seeking brands and companies looking to be associated with these unique road cycling events, which epitomise the surge of interest in cycling.
In 2008, an average of 310,000 viewers tuned in for The Tour of Britain highlights each evening on ITV4. The programme compared strongly with the Tour de France highlights on the same channel, with a peak reach of 376,000 for the highlights of Stage Five in Yorkshire.
The Tour of Britain and Tour Series are proud to be partners with the Prostate Cancer Charity.
- Ends �
Notes to Editor
The Prostate Cancer Charity is a proud partner of The Tour Series and this forms part of a new initiative �Unite ByCycling�, which has been set up to raise awareness of prostate cancer and support for men and their families affected by the disease. This will feature a range of cycling events, involving both professional cyclists and the general public. The activity is focussed around the UK�s premier professional cycling events, The Tour of Britain, and The Tour Series and will extend to events that amateurs and cyclists of all abilities can enter, all with one goal in mind: to unite people through cycling and raise awareness of prostate cancer. For more information, please visit: www.unitebicycling.rg.uk
The Tour of Britain 2009 � www.tourofbritain.com
The Tour Series � location and dates
21 May Milton Keynes
28 May Exeter
2 June Woking
4 June Peterborough
9 June Blackpool
11 June Southport
16 June Stoke on Trent
18 June Colchester
23 June Chester
25 June Southend on Sea
Find out more at www.tourseries.co.uk
For further information, please contact:
Craig Brophy
The Tour of Britain
brophyc@thetour.co.uk
07919 153 227
Laura Wootton
ITV
laura.wootton@itv.com
020 7156 7241