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Tour de France rising for SBS

Coverage of the Tour de France is enjoying a surge for SBS at the moment, recording its second highest ratings ever.

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Last night recorded the second highest ratings ever for a stage of the Tour de France with 456,000 viewers for Stage 18 of the 2011 Tour de France.

This previous high was in 2008 at 563,000 viewers.

Last night SBS lifted to a 9.0% share.

SBS’s coverage of the Tour de France is currently averaging 20 per cent above 2010 figures while the website at sbs.com.au/tdf is also up 14% on previous years.

“This is the 21st year SBS has broadcast the Tour de France and it’s an event that continues to grow each year in Australia,” says Ken Shipp, Head of Sport at SBS.

“This year we have increased our offering with full multi-platform coverage via our website, tour tracker, iPhone and iPad apps and podcast. Cadel Evans has had a great race to this point and we’re thrilled that so many Australians are getting behind him in his quest for the yellow jersey.”

The Tour de France continues tonight, Saturday night and Sunday night live at 10pm AEST on SBS ONE.

Meanwhile in last night’s ratings a three-way legal tussle at 8:30pm saw Law and Order: SVU (951,000) beat out Crownies (586,000) and Law and Order: LA (514,000).

Nine won the night with Seven pushed into third place for the second night in a row.

Week 30

18 Responses

  1. Take out the time trials and steep mounting climbing and you will have the most non sensicle sport on earth. Lets face it, most days end in 0-0 draws.
    The sport is most remembered for it’s off field incidents than the race itself. Cars, animals and people getting in the way of riders and don’t we love to hear of those caught drug cheating.
    What makes this a great sport ….Schleck….someone who had the balls to make it a sport and a contest.
    Watching Cadel is like watching paint dry.

  2. Great numbers for the last mountains stage last night … will be interesting to see what numbers the time trial does tonight … Cadel for the win! I’ve got to make mention of the fantastic iPad app that I’ve been watching the live race footage on whilst snuggled in bed these last few cold nights, which leads me to ask, David, how goes it with incorporating figures for those who watch broadcasts like these online or via tablets, etc?

  4. Have to agree, the coverage has been excellent, altho’ I would also like to see a lot more of the race, perhaps on SBS2. Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen are great but are a bit like an old couple the way they have sly little digs at each other.

    Agree, Johnson, France TV camera work has been very good, altho’ sometimes the vision switches away at an inopportune moment (control room fault not camera). Shame that some of them are less attentive when overtaking cyclists.

    Tonight’s stage should be epic. Hopefully Cadel can manage the gap to both of the Schleck brothers and leave himself with a chance in the time trial tomorrow.

    @Barry – Nine grabbing the rights to this is one of my recurring nightmares.

  7. While SBS’s coverage is very good, most of the praise should go to the host broadcasters, France 2 and France 3 (part of France Télévisions, the French equivalent of the ABC), which year after year deliver brilliant camera work on stunning backdrops. Although the on-screen graphics are mostly in French which many people may not understand.

  8. Not a regular cycling fan….but enjoying the events on SBS….
    Also the little breaks with Gabriel Gate…discussing the regional cuisine….
    And yes Trix….awesome work by Andy Schleck!
    Hope Cadel can push that little harder…. *fingers X*

  9. @Barry: Nine tried to take the World Cup in 2002 by sharing the rights with SBS. I don’t think it was a hit for Nine so the rights went back exclusively to SBS next time around! So Nine might not be so ‘careless’ to meddle with sports events from SBS a second time! 🙂

  10. Slightly off topic & a little Green Guide letter-writer of me, but I wish newsreaders would pronounce France as ‘France’ when referring to the ‘Tour De Frounce.’ If they can’t do that, then just call it the Tour Of France.

  12. @barry. sbs locked away the tour rights last year until 2017.
    It would be great if they covered each stage start on SBS2 before crossing to SBS at 2230. Would rate higher than the current content on SBS2.
    Kudos to SBS – great coverage.

  13. I haven’t missed a minute of SBS’s excellent coverage of Le Tour, but your story is of real concern.

    Any more ratings figures like last night for SBS and Channel Nine will do its best to steal the coverage, then show it out of order and repeat stages while it holds off to show the best legs only during ratings!

  14. With briiliant camera work on a stunning back drop combined with superb knowledgeable commentary is it any wonder that this arduous marathon is enjoying great late night viewing figures. Oh we have an aussie with a very good chance of winning as well….compelling television

  15. Lordy, I’m tired today after staying up to watch the entire stage last night … and as much as I would love to see Cadel Evans take out the Tour, you have to hand it to Andy Schleck … legendary move last night with 60 Ks to go!

  16. Also, might I add, SBS’s coverage is awesome as ever. While I would like them to catch the start of the stages, but their coverage once it starts is great. Phil Liggett is an absolute hero.

  18. its funny that despite nine winning and pushing seven into third for the second night in a row, seven still have a lead of over 2.5% for the week so far

    congrats to SBS on the coverage, enjoyable to watch 🙂

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