The pie gets bigger

The growing coverage of pro cycling is a sure sign of the popularity of the sport in Australia and the fans are the big winners, writes Michael Tomalaris.

When is too much cycling on television never enough?

The answer to that question is superfluous, but we're finding out given the growing line-up of programming currently being enjoyed on our small screens.

Australian audiences have been inundated with European racing in the last month or so across a number of networks and platforms.

Never before have we been spoiled with the glut of top events being broadcast, whether it's live or produced in packages, it's an indication of the level of high-demand generated from this side of the globe.

From the Tour Down Under to the early season stage races and onto the Spring Classics, we are now in a position to have an abundance of choice available to enjoy the variety on offer in the world of professional cycling.

That said, it came as a surprise when a training buddy leaned across to me during a ride last weekend and "complained" that he was failing to keep up with the amount of cycling currently on offer on our TV sets.

He said he was forced to record programmes as his daily schedule "couldn't keep up."

Couldn't keep up?! I never thought I'd hear the day....

Sections of the cycling public, in the past, have often accused SBS, for one reason or another, for FAILING to land the broadcast rights to certain events on the UCI calendar.

But to now argue there was too much on at the moment? Please!

As mentioned in a previous blog, the "vultures are circling" and TV executives from other networks, commercial or subscription, are on full alert for any available cycling events for broadcast.

With the Giro about to begin, I've noticed some astute Cycling Central readers are asking why SBS doesn't screen live stages of Italy's Grand Tour, opting instead for live coverage of each of the stages in the Tour of California?

Without wanting to sound detrimental to my Italian TV colleagues, it seems they choose to "line their pockets" rather than market their wonderful race to the world.

In other words, the modest budget SBS has at its disposal doesn't cater for the relative huge costs charged by the Giro's owners.

But take it from me, that is set to change sooner rather than later.

But make no mistake, SBS' on going commitment to world cycling will continue and grow in the coming years andd we have big plans for specific events on the cycling calendar, and for our overall coverage of the sport.

As you can imagine it can sometimes be a difficult balancing act making all of our viewers happy.

But it's important to remember SBS is not specifically a network dedicated to sport and has responsibilities to meet its charter to cater for a cross-section of viewers.

Having said all this, we will have nightly highlights of the Giro which will complement by live coverage of the ToC in the coming weeks.

And with the Tour de France just nine weeks away, surely, that can be never be more than enough.