The study "TV Demand for the Tour de France: The Importance of Stage Characteristics versus Outcome Uncertainty, Patriotism, and Doping" found that live viewership is largely driven by the specific profile of the stage (mountains vs. flat) rather than just the uncertainty of who will win.
It tracks the shift from delayed print-dominated coverage to sophisticated live broadcasting techniques—including the use of helicopters and motorbikes—that changed how audiences perceive the race. Other Notable Studies: Tours Vuelta a Francia en Vivo
The paper identifies three distinct phases of broadcasting: a local French phase (1948–1967), a European expansion phase (1968–1991), and the current global high-quality phase (1992–2021). The study "TV Demand for the Tour de
As the live product improved, the value of TV broadcasting rights skyrocketed, allowing the organizers (ASO) to become the sport's most powerful actors. Other Notable Studies: The paper identifies three distinct
This research is highly relevant to your interest in live tours ("en vivo") because it analyzes how the Tour de France evolved from a small French experiment in 1948 to the high-definition global product it is today.