Big News for Triathlon: London WTCS Returns to the BBC
The London WTCS event will be broadcast on the BBC, marking a potentially significant step toward bringing triathlon back to mainstream audiences.
The efforts to grow triathlon and transform it into a mainstream sport have never been greater than they are right now. It’s an incredibly exciting chapter for both fans and athletes.
And London will mark another milestone in this broader journey, following a recent announcement that the London WTCS event held on July 25th will be broadcast on the BBC.
As Alex Yee previously shared, the paywall and subscription issue has stood in the way of growing triathlon viewership. In his words: “When I was growing up, World Series racing was on the BBC. I could just turn it on and watch my heroes. Now it’s stuck behind a paywall, which I think is a real shame.”
Yet London may mark the beginning of a turning point for that and, at the very least, offer an exploration and demonstration of what it could look like if triathlon returned to mainstream coverage today.
Following the announcement, Yee commented “Big moves” on Instagram, while fellow Brit Georgia Taylor-Brown said, “We’re back!!!”
The comments were full of celebration, with others saying, “Great news, triathlon coverage has not been easy to access without subscription which hasn’t been good for the sport!” and “FINALLY!!!! They should never have taken it off!”
While this does not represent a long-term commitment at this time, those of us who love triathlon can hope that it may be the first step toward a dramatic shift in mainstream triathlon coverage.