Cycling rights move to TNT Sports in UK with subscription increase
Live cycling is set to become significantly more expensive to watch in the UK as it transitions to TNT Sports, aligning with other premium sports like football and rugby.
Starting 28 February 2025, Eurosport will no longer be available in the UK and Ireland, with cycling moving to TNT Sports. This decision by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) aims to consolidate its sports offerings into a single destination.
As a consequence, cycling will now be behind a larger paywall, with a TNT Sports subscription costing £30.99. This subscription can be obtained at a lower cost as an add-on to certain TV packages. Previously, Eurosport was included at no additional charge for Sky TV and Virgin Media customers in the UK.
WBD has confirmed that there will be no free-to-air live coverage of the Tour de France in the UK from 2026, coinciding with the start of the new exclusive rights deal.
Scott Young, group senior vice president of WBD Sports Europe, remarked, “The new home of cycling in the UK is going to be TNT Sports. There is going to be a price rise for this premium sports channel. What we've looked at is creating value for money, taking the most premium sports properties as possible and creating the adjacency, creating a sports ecosystem where you get value.”
Fans wishing to watch cycling must subscribe to the full TNT Sports package. Following the changes, Eurosport 1 and 2 will no longer appear in TV listings, as cycling will be integrated with the existing TNT Sports channels.
Users of the Discovery+ app will also face a price increase, needing to switch from the standard £6.99 monthly package to the £30.99 premium option to continue viewing live cycling.
Young added, “We're building out the best sports and entertainment profile we have in this country. People can choose to make their decision as to how they want to engage with us in the short term. We are investing in cycling.”
While live cycling will not be available, some cycling content will be aired on WBD's free-to-air channels, such as Quest and DMAX, featuring highlights of the Grand Tours and a new programme, 'The Ultimate Cycling Show', hosted by Orla Chennaoui and Adam Blythe, debuting on 27 February on Quest.
These changes will take effect on 28 February 2025, leading to the removal of Eurosport 1 and 2 from the UK and Ireland's TV listings.
To view live cycling, a linear subscription to TNT Sports or a digital subscription to Discovery+ will be required. Both platforms will air all races of the men's and women's WorldTours.
This year, viewers can watch the Tour de France for free on ITV; however, this will be the last year, as WBD has secured exclusive rights from 2026.
A TNT Sports subscription costs £30.99 per month but can be added to certain TV bundles for a discount.
For example, Virgin Media customers can include it in their bundle for an additional £18 per month, while Sky TV customers will need to pay an extra £30 monthly. EE mobile customers can add TNT Sports for £20 a month.
Yes, live cycling will still be accessible on Discovery+, but users must upgrade their package to the £30.99 per month premium option from 28 February 2025.
Racing highlights will remain available on WBD's YouTube channel and social media, along with Quest, which will feature highlights and the new cycling show.
The Tour de France will not be available free-to-air on TNT Sports or any WBD channels. Free viewing will only occur this year on ITV, which will not continue showing the race due to WBD's exclusive rights deal commencing in 2026.
WBD's updates impact viewers in the UK and Ireland, with other regions such as France, Italy, and Spain remaining unaffected and retaining access to Eurosport.
