Tour de France organiser Amaury Sport Organisation has said the 2016 edition of the cycling race will have new broadcast partners as it prepares to commence tomorrow (Saturday).
ASO said Albanian public-service broadcaster RTSH and Vietnam’s K Plus of VSTV, a joint venture between national broadcaster VTV and French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus, have signed on as new Tour de France partners.
In addition, ASO said Swedish commercial and pay-television broadcaster TV4 will show live coverage of the ‘Grand Tour’ for the first time, while Colombian commercial broadcaster Caracol will offer significantly enhanced coverage focusing on national hero Nairo Quintana.
Meanwhile, ASO has detailed an enhanced commitment to onboard cameras for the 2016 Tour. Onboard cameras were first implemented two years ago and ASO said video clips of such footage from the 2015 Tour de France have been downloaded almost three million times.
For the 2016 Tour, 14 bikes will be equipped with a camera on a daily basis. Pictures will be published online and on social networks. Three bikes will be chosen daily to carry onboard live cameras connected via satellite and plane relay. Images and sound will be available for insertion any time during the live television broadcast.
The 2016 Tour commences with the first stage of the Grand Depart in the French department of Manche and will run through to July 24.