The recent closure of Eurosport and its shift to Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD) premium channel, TNT Sports, has sparked a heated debate in the UK Parliament over the future of free-to-air cycling coverage. The discussion, initiated by Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, highlighted the implications of the transition, which has seen a dramatic 343% price increase for subscribers—from £6.99 to £30.99 per month.
Addressing the issue in Westminster Hall, Obese-Jecty called the loss of free cycling coverage a “metaphor for the crisis” facing professional cycling in the UK. He referred to Eurosport’s shutdown as a “hammer blow” to the sport’s visibility in the country, emphasizing how vital television coverage is for cultivating new cycling enthusiasts.
“Cycling is one of those sports people often come to by chance,” said Obese-Jecty. “Everyone has a bike as a child, and for many, seeing the sport on TV during major events like the Olympics sparks the desire to get involved.”
Obese-Jecty, who described himself as a “cycling bore,” revealed that watching cycling stars such as Mathieu van der Poel on Eurosport had inspired him to take up cyclo-cross. He expressed concern that if the Tour de France’s UK Grand Départ in 2027 is not available for free, it would be a “tragedy” for the sport’s reach.
The Tour de France has been a fixture on UK television for decades, with ITV broadcasting the race for the past 25 years. However, under the new agreement between WBD, the parent company of Eurosport and TNT Sports, the race will be placed behind a paywall from 2026, removing it from free-to-air networks.
“For many, the Tour de France is more than just a race; it’s the entry point into a sport that is otherwise inaccessible,” Obese-Jecty said. He stressed that removing free coverage would make cycling even more niche and harder to access for new audiences.
The debate was attended by only a small number of MPs, with around 10 people present. However, the Minister for Sport, Stephanie Peacock, acknowledged Obese-Jecty’s concerns about rising costs, though she clarified that the government would not intervene in such private-sector decisions.
Obese-Jecty made a passionate case for visibility, stating, “To be popular, a sport must be visible. To be visible, a sport must have television presence.” He compared the situation to the government’s stance on major events like the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon, which are protected from being placed behind paywalls.
The MP concluded with a grim prediction for the future of cycling in the UK, stating that without free coverage, the sport’s audience would be limited to a small, niche group of enthusiasts. “The visibility of the sport will be reduced to a few middle-aged men riding on Sundays, inspiring few others,” he said.
Despite the strong arguments presented in Parliament, it remains uncertain whether the government will take action to address the issue. WBD Sports Europe’s senior vice president, Scott Young, has previously stated that free-to-air live cycling is not part of the company’s future plans and expressed confidence that the paywall would not hinder the sport’s growth in the long term.
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