Road Bike Racing - U.S. Postal's new sponsor is.....

Looks like The Discovery Channel will take over for US Postal. A press conference will be tomorrow with Lance flying to the USA to appear.

Surely now The Discover Channel will take over TV coverage of LeTour when OLN's contract is up. Does Discovery own OLN?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=55092

Surely now The Discover Channel will take over TV coverage of LeTour when OLN's contract is up. Does Discovery own OLN?

They'll only take over cycling coverage for the Tour if they outbid OLN for it. OLN might not want to give it up, especially if they're seeing good ratings for their cycling coverage. Also, I'm not sure that doing cycling coverage would be good for Discovery, since Lance may be on the decline over the next few years. And, would they want to cover the other grand tours if Lance wasn't riding in them?

To me, it seems like kind of a strange move for a US television network to want to sponsor a pro cycling team. Most companies use their sponsorship for advertising. Why would a TV network want to do that? To get more people to watch their nature shows?

They'll only take over cycling coverage for the Tour if they outbid OLN for it. OLN might not want to give it up, especially if they're seeing good ratings for their cycling coverage. Also, I'm not sure that doing cycling coverage would be good for Discovery, since Lance may be on the decline over the next few years. And, would they want to cover the other grand tours if Lance wasn't riding in them?

To me, it seems like kind of a strange move for a US television network to want to sponsor a pro cycling team. Most companies use their sponsorship for advertising. Why would a TV network want to do that? To get more people to watch their nature shows?


Well by now i'm sure that this has been beaten to death on more than a few bike forums. The founder of Discovery Communications (the parent company of the Discovery Channel, TLC, etc.) if a huge sports fan and even founded the Women's United Soccer Association. Also Discovery Communications is a giant multi-national company with media ventures in Germany, Asia, India, Latin America, Spain and Portugal to name a few.

To me, it seems like kind of a strange move for a US television network to want to sponsor a pro cycling team. Most companies use their sponsorship for advertising. Why would a TV network want to do that? To get more people to watch their nature shows?

The Cartoon Network used to sponsor a car on the NASCAR series.

The Cartoon Network used to sponsor a car on the NASCAR series.

The key words here being "used to." :D

On the other hand, if I had money to burn like this Discovery channel mogul, I'd sponsor a cycling team too. Maybe I could even write it off on my taxes! ;)

The Cartoon Network used to sponsor a car on the NASCAR series.

It is their (NASCAR) target demographic! ;)

It's been confirmed on cyclingnews.com

Can't wait to see the new kit.

All I keep thinking about is the Simpsons episode with the lemon tree where Martin declares he and Nelson to be "Team Discovery Channel!"

crikey, next thing you know, the croc hunter is going to be sporting spandex....

All I keep thinking about is the Simpsons episode with the lemon tree where Martin declares he and Nelson to be "Team Discovery Channel!"

I can see Lance turning to Johan and saying, "your wussiness better come in handy..."

I though April Fool was long over.... I can't believe the new group being called Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. It sounds.... awkward.

Anyway, why is US Postal not sponsering them any longer? They no longer have the potential to win?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2004/jun04/jun16news-armstrong

I though April Fool was long over.... I can't believe the new group being called Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. It sounds.... awkward.

haha yeah...now they arent USPS they are DCPC...say that outloud and try not to laugh at it:D

I vote for a shortened reference to "The Disco Riders" or even simply "Discos". :D

I vote for a shortened reference to "The Disco Riders" or even simply "Discos". :D

Team Disco. Has a nice ring to it. Maybe thier new kits could include a nice lesiure suits, sharp polyester shirts with nice wide collars and gold chains. They'd have to forego helmets, wouldn't want to muss the feather hair. And Cuban heeled cycling shoes.

"Team Discovery Channel"


http://www.rob-clarkson.com/duff-brewery/martin/02.jpg

aw crap, beaten to the punch