Bike - the first broadcasting channel dedicated to cycling rides into the UK
Bike, the first broadcasting channel exclusively dedicated to cycling, has launched across the UK, set to broadcast 24 hours a day on Sky and Virgin Media.
The channel debuted in Italy in 2012 and has since accumulated an audience of over one million cycling fans a month. The channel is already available to over 15 million households in the UK through its partnership with Sky and Virgin Media, with further distribution announcements expected soon.
Bike is set to appeal to all types of cycling fans with scheduling that offers viewers a range of programmes such as travel logs from the Race Across America, local productions highlighting the greatest rides in Britain, cycling City Guides and comprehensive bike reviews.
Programming will also include highlights and over 100 days of live and exclusive coverage of the seasons’ biggest events between Pro Tour, World Tour and UCI Cross.
Bike is the birth child of Filippo Ubaldini, whose 25 year career in the media business has seen him fill executive roles at Mediaset, the largest commercial broadcaster in Italy, along with serving as the managing director of Discovery Networks and Scripps Network, and founding Filmedia, an Italian media market for international media brands.
Moving forward, Ubaldini has plans to launch digital platforms for the channel to boost the viewership and expand the brand experience.
“The rapturous way that the UK embraced London 2012 and the Tour de France proved to us that the logical next step was to launch here, and we are now excited to be part of the growing UK cycling scene”, said Ubaldini, chief executive of Bike.
“The entire team at BIKE has invested resources and time into the UK market and we expect a huge success. We want BIKE to be the destination for engagement and inspiration in the cycling community.”