Swiss public-service broadcaster SRG has extended a rights deal for the Tour de Suisse cycling road race in a two-year deal, from 2013 to 2014.
Under the deal agreed by SRG with the IMG agency, which organises and promotes the race, the broadcaster will also act as the event’s host broadcaster and will produce an international feed for rights-holding broadcasters worldwide.
The rights acquired by SRG cover television, online, mobile and radio platforms.
As part of the new deal, IMG has agreed to push back the riders’ scheduled finish times to between 6.40pm and 6.50pm on all race days, apart from Sundays. It is hoped that this move, combined with SRG agreeing to schedule fixed transmission times for the race in early evenings for the first time, will increase exposure for the race.
The 2013 Tour de Suisse will run from June 8-16.