Channel 5 has secured a three-year broadcast agreement with Warner Bros.
Discovery, bringing Grand Tour cycling highlights and live coverage of the 2027 UK Grand Départ back to free-to-air television in the United Kingdom.
The deal, announced on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, ensures that terrestrial viewers can watch an hour-long daily highlights package at 7 p.
m. for the Tour de France and Vuelta a España from 2026 through 2028.
The agreement also covers Giro d'Italia highlights between 2027 and 2029, filling a gap after ITV ended its cycling coverage following Warner Bros.
Discovery's exclusive rights deal in 2024.
In addition to daily summaries, Channel 5 will air live coverage of the opening three stages of both the men's and women's 2027 Tour de France, which are scheduled across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The move follows fan criticism and a parliamentary petition after the races were placed behind a £31-per-month streaming paywall on platforms like HBO Max and TNT Sports.
Executives Welcome Broader Access
Reemah Sakaan, President of Channel 5, expressed enthusiasm about the arrangement.
"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," Sakaan said.
Sakaan noted that the broadcast package would complement other major summer programming, such as the Commonwealth Games.
"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," she added.
The network aims to attract both general viewers and commercial partners through the multi-year cycling package.
"The Tour de France kicks off an incredible summer of sport on 5, adding to the rapidly expanding range of premium sport we have for people to watch," Sakaan said.
Warner Bros. Discovery management emphasized that the free-to-air components would work alongside their subscription services.
"This partnership with 5 represents a major step forward in expanding the reach of elite cycling across the UK," said Scott Young, Executive Vice President of Warner Bros.
Discovery Sports Europe.
Young highlighted the importance of cross-platform availability in modern sports broadcasting.
"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," he said.
The executive added that cycling's athleticism deserves the widest possible audience.
"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," Young said.
The partnership aligns with Warner Bros. Discovery's broader distribution goals across its sports rights portfolio.
"Expanding reach and engaging new audiences across our rights portfolio remains a key strategic priority, and partnerships such as this play an important role in achieving that ambition," Young stated.
Presenter and Event Organizers React
The independent production will feature a separate presentation crew from the live broadcast, hosted by Rebecca Charlton.
"It's fantastic news that the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana will return to terrestrial television with highlights on 5 this summer, and I am delighted to be able to tell the world that I will be the host," Charlton said.
Charlton indicated that the program would focus on race analysis and human-interest stories.
"It's an absolute dream to have the opportunity to bring the racing to life for all of the cycling fans out there as well as guiding some new viewers along for the ride," she added.
National event planners also welcomed the deal as vital promotion for the upcoming domestic stages.
"We want to bring the 2027 Grands Départs to as wide an audience as possible, so it is fantastic news that fans can look forward to following this year's edition with free-to-air coverage to build their excitement for what to expect when the Grand Départ arrives in Britain in 2027," said Paul Bush, Managing Director of the 2027 GB Grands Départs.
