Outdoor Life Network
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The Outdoor Life Network (OLN) is a cable television channel owned by Comcast. Its programming is an unusual mix of extreme sports, more sedate fare like hunting, and, most notably, coverage of professional cycling. OLN currently owns the American rights to show live coverage of the Tour de France - rights which are particularly valuable right now due to the popularity of Lance Armstrong.
In 2004, OLN capitalized on this popularity during the Tour, showing virtually nothing but Tour-related coverage for over three weeks, including their live coverage, hosted by Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen, Al Trautwig, and Bob Roll, as well as reality programming such as The Lance Chronicles, a show focusing on Armstrong's training for the Tour, and The Roadside Tour, following the Cutters, a particularly devoted group of Armstrong fans. This coverage was grouped under the title "The Cyclysm," which was meant to refer to Armstrong's effort to win a record sixth Tour de France. OLN marketed this with the line, "Someday, someone may ask you, 'Where were you during the Cyclysm?'" Although memorable, this slogan seems unlikely, as the Tour de France lasts for 23 days, and is thus a rather long time for anyone to want to know where you were for.
Although Armstrong's riding makes the Tour de France uniquely valuable programming, OLN does not restrict its cycling coverage to that event, also providing American coverage of the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espaņa.
External links
- OLNtv.com (http://www.olntv.com/)
- OLN Canada (http://www.tsn.ca/oln/)