RIP Universal Sports
11-17-15, 10:35 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
RIP Universal Sports
I was just surfing around on TV and much to my dismay it appears as if Universal Sports Network is no longer on the air. This can't bode well for Professional Cycling coverage on TV. You can criticize the quality of the coverage on Universal all you want but I watched a lot of races that were not available anywhere else on broadcast TV and will sorely miss it.
When I went to the channel it directs you NBC Sports. I already knew NBC owned Universal but NBC only broadcast a few events, primarily the TdF. Looks as if we may be returning to the dark days of Pro Cycling on TV. I know I can stream races from Steephill but that's a pain in the arse and I generally DVR races and watch then at my leisure.
I'm seriously bummed out.
When I went to the channel it directs you NBC Sports. I already knew NBC owned Universal but NBC only broadcast a few events, primarily the TdF. Looks as if we may be returning to the dark days of Pro Cycling on TV. I know I can stream races from Steephill but that's a pain in the arse and I generally DVR races and watch then at my leisure.
I'm seriously bummed out.
11-17-15, 12:01 PM
#2
staring at the mountains
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Castle Pines, CO
Posts: 4,560
Bikes: Obed GVR, Fairdale Goodship, Salsa Timberjack 29
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 394 Post(s)
Liked 197 Times
in
112 Posts
NBC Sports Group Picks Up Events That Aired On Shuttered Universal Sports Network | Deadline
Looks like they'll be spread across Universal HD and NBC Live Extra:
https://www.nbcsports.com/olympic-sports-schedule
Looks like they'll be spread across Universal HD and NBC Live Extra:
https://www.nbcsports.com/olympic-sports-schedule
Last edited by superdex; 11-17-15 at 12:06 PM.
11-17-15, 01:02 PM
#3
Senior Member
Youtube has most of the Eurosport televised races. It takes a couple of hours for them to appear.
11-17-15, 04:25 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
11-17-15, 05:25 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 8,088
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 686 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
cyclingtorrents if you can get in, I think they've limited the accounts now and it's full, but it's pretty awesome. I can usually get Eurosport HD coverage with the commercials cut out the day after the race.
Not as convenient as setting the dvr, but still fairly convenient. No universal bums me out as well. On the upside, it'll save me $15/month.
Not as convenient as setting the dvr, but still fairly convenient. No universal bums me out as well. On the upside, it'll save me $15/month.
11-17-15, 05:48 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 522
Bikes: Fuji Rubaix 1.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just checked my cable listing and sure enough USN is gone (sigh!). Along that line I haven't had much luck finding indoor track and cyclocross races. I do subscribe to Eurosport Player (UK England) and there are no track or cyclocross races. What am I missing? I'd sure appreciate some tips to finding them. Youtube doesn't have any current ones either..at least from what I can find.
Well I found some current cyclocross races on Youtube...sadly I don't speak Dutch! Oh well, they're still interesting watching while I ride inside.
Thanks, Rich
Well I found some current cyclocross races on Youtube...sadly I don't speak Dutch! Oh well, they're still interesting watching while I ride inside.
Thanks, Rich
__________________
..life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. ― Andy Rooney ...enjoy what's left!
..life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. ― Andy Rooney ...enjoy what's left!
Last edited by Rich Gibson; 11-17-15 at 06:06 PM.
11-17-15, 06:34 PM
#7
Senior Member
I watch races using my Chromecast on my big screen TV. Youtube would work using Chromecast.
11-19-15, 10:22 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 7,639
Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997
Mentioned: 146 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 392 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 49 Times
in
31 Posts
Bummer. My wife wants to get cable TV again, for the 2016 elections, and I was thinking that USN would be a little bonus for me.
Im not really missing cycling on TV, since Eurosport streaming has it all, but there is something effortless about flopping down on the couch and pointing at the TiVo.
Im not really missing cycling on TV, since Eurosport streaming has it all, but there is something effortless about flopping down on the couch and pointing at the TiVo.
11-24-15, 05:46 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Posts: 6,681
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 86 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
so gogo's a nogo? 
kind of a dweeb, but my kind'a dweeb...
kind of a dweeb, but my kind'a dweeb...
Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 12-12-15 at 01:25 AM.
11-24-15, 05:53 PM
#12
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Will not e missed. 80% commercials, only to be oddly interrupted on occasion by bumbling commentators who need to retire (Phil/Paul) or bumbling incompetents like Gogo and Schlanger.
11-25-15, 09:23 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 8,088
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 686 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
I wasn't the biggest fan of the coverage, but it was nice to just catch the highlights of most races without having to dedicate 4 hours of my life to bike racing every day.
12-14-15, 05:48 PM
#15
Coffee Stud
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Annapolis, MD
Posts: 205
Bikes: Fuji ALOHA TT, Scott Speedster 35, Nashbar Road Bike, Marin MTB, Dolomite Fat Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
All of you that cheered at Armstrong's downfall, are you still cheering?
12-14-15, 10:40 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 7,639
Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997
Mentioned: 146 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 392 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 49 Times
in
31 Posts
Yes.
01-18-16, 02:05 PM
#17
Senior Member
Does anyone have updated information as to whether the spring classics, Giro, etc that used to be on Universal Sports
will be broadcast in the US? I seem to recall reading somewhere that BEin Sports had outbid NBC Sports for the US rights....
but then you have the statements from NBCSN saying cycling will moved to Universal HD. A check of the NBCSN/UniversalHD
schedule reveals little as it only lists programming up until the end of February.
will be broadcast in the US? I seem to recall reading somewhere that BEin Sports had outbid NBC Sports for the US rights....
but then you have the statements from NBCSN saying cycling will moved to Universal HD. A check of the NBCSN/UniversalHD
schedule reveals little as it only lists programming up until the end of February.
01-19-16, 08:57 AM
#18
Senior Member
I watched the Tour San Luis yesterday live stream at cyclingfans.com. Then last night I watched the Santos Tour Down Under on my Nexus 7 tablet (later I switched to my laptop and use my Chromecast on the big TV) using the NBCSports Live app and website. I have watched European CX at cyclingfans.com as well.
01-19-16, 07:12 PM
#19
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,296
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1442 Post(s)
Liked 711 Times
in
365 Posts
01-19-16, 11:31 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,040
Bikes: S-Works Tarmac, Nashbar CX, Trek 2200 trainer bike, Salsa Casseroll commuter, old school FS MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I must be the only person on earth who actually like Phil Liggett. When I first got into cycling I resolved to watch the tour (the only race I knew about) to learn more about cycling. Phil's voice represents racing in my head, even though far more of the races I've watched have been narrated by Carlton Kirby. Sure, Liggett makes mistakes, but no more than anyone else who's talking about what 100 people are doing in real time.
01-20-16, 04:35 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 292
Bikes: 2005 Cannondale R5000 1986 Basso Gap(Super Record) 1986 Schwinn Voyager SP 1975 Schwinn Paramount Track Bike 1974 Raleigh RRA
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think Phil does a fantastic job....No one can doubt the wealth of information he brings to the broadcast...sure he might bumble a bit no and again, but at hi age, that's to be expected...I love his commentary...Paul Sherwin's,too.
01-21-16, 07:49 AM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chester County, PA
Posts: 2,365
Bikes: 2010 Trek Madone 5.5 CAAD9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
God I hope you are joking, Phil is terrible. Paul is decent, Eurosport guys are so much better than Phil.
01-21-16, 07:59 AM
#23
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
When Phil and Paul don't even know where they are in the race, or where the intermediate sprints are on the course, and get rider's names wrong most of the time...yes, you can doubt their knowledge.
01-21-16, 08:54 AM
#24
Senior Member
I enjoy Paul and Phil commentary. They know than I do and considering they are doing this live the mistakes are minimal.
