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A24 TECHNOLOGY
Saturday 6 July 2019
Technology allows NBC to add new elements to Tour de France

By JOE REEDY coverage of other sports.
AP Sports Writer Joel Felicio, who is the coor-
Phil Liggett remembers the dinating producer for NBC,
early days of Tour de France said planning for the Tour
coverage in the United begins in October. Most
States, which would involve of the video that Felicio
him traveling to Paris at the uses comes from France
end of a stage, recording TV Sport, which provides
voiceovers all night and the main feed, but his chal-
then rejoining the circuit for lenge each year is figuring
the next stage. out how to introduce new
Those days, though, are elements to the broadcast.
ancient history. The Tour Felicio also has a chal-
has been aired live in the lenge that few others have,
U.S. since 2001 with Liggett which is producing live
providing play-by-play. The broadcasts from 21 differ-
coverage has also evolved ent locations. "There's trying
to include pre-race and to figure out commercials,
nightly highlight shows. when to go to commen-
The NBC Sports Group will tary and using different el-
air more than 350 hours ements but not missing the
of coverage across NBC, key move. There's also try-
NBCSN and the NBC Sports ing to keep everyone inter-
Gold online streaming ested for six hours," he said.
package. Despite the chal- This will be the first Tour since
lenges of live coverage, 1985 that Liggett has not
Liggett said it is a lot easier done with Paul Sherwen by
compared to the weekend his side. Sherwen died Dec.
highlight shows that used to 2 at age 62 due to heart
be the only way to view it. In this July 29, 2018 file photo, Tour de France winner Britain's Geraint Thomas, wearing the overall failure. Bob Roll moves into
"There is nothing that beats leader's yellow jersey, passes the Arc de Triomphe during the twenty-first stage of the Tour de the commentary box along
France cycling race over 116 kilometers (72.1 miles) with start in Houilles and finish on Champs-
doing it live," said Liggett, Elysees avenue in Paris, France. with Jens Voigt, who com-
who will be covering his Associated Press peted in the Tour from 1998
47th Tour when it begins through 2014
Saturday. "Sitting in the have been tested the past during each stage while glasses utilize the same Chris Horner, who compet-
commentary box is like be- four years, but would only traveling aboard a motor- technology U.S. fighter pi- ed in the Tour seven times,
ing in a 727. You can't wait show footage at the com- cycle on the course. lots have in the visors of will also debut as an ana-
to take off and see where pletion of a stage. Commentator Christian their helmets for telemetry. lyst. Horner is the most re-
things land at the end of a Cameras can be mounted Vande Velde will ride sev- NBC will also use a virtual cent American Grand Tour
stage." under the rider's saddle eral key stages in advance, graphics Telestrator, which champion after capturing
As technology has evolved, and on the front under the wearing special raptor sun- will produce augmented the Tour of Spain in 2013.
broadcasters have found handlebar. The cameras glasses to preview critical reality graphics that will al- "I think this is the most open
it easier to add new ele- could provide additional course points. The sunglass- low commentators to move race in years," Liggett said.
ments. This year's Tour will insight into late-race moves es will also show Vande around and analyze cy- "There are a lot of young rid-
include cameras on the or crashes. Steve Porino will Velde's speed, how much clists. Depending on its use, ers that have the potential
bike of up to eight riders also have a camera fo- energy he is using and the it is the type of technology of this being one of the best
that can transmit live. They cused on him as he reports rate of pedaling. The sun- that could be extended to Tours in recent memory."q

Facebook enlists plain English to clarify how it makes money

BY RACHEL LERMAN Facebook has come un- gets financed." It also makes clear that It also won't promote the
AP Technology Writer der fire with regulators in This is how Facebook's new violating the company's updates on people's Face-
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Europe, and increasingly in guidelines tackle that chal- policies could get posts re- book feeds. The compa-
Facebook is updating its the U.S., for how it handles lenge: "Instead of paying moved from the site and ny said it decided not to
terms and services guide- personal information col- to use Facebook and the explains that users still own make people re-sign the
lines to clarify how it makes lected on its site — and other products and ser- the material they post on- agreement because the
money from the personal how transparent it is with vices we offer, by using the line, although Facebook changes merely clarify
information of its users. users. Facebook Products cov- may use it. existing policy and don't
The changes reflect its on- The company said it made ered by these Terms, you But at nearly 10 pages long change it.
going attempts to satisfy the updates after working agree that we can show in PDF form, Facebook is Facebook, along with
regulators in the U.S. and with a European consumer you ads that businesses still facing the most com- other big internet compa-
Europe, which have urged protection group and reg- and organizations pay us mon problem with lengthy nies, have been increas-
the company to make sure ulators around the world. to promote on and off the terms and services — peo- ingly scrutinized in the past
users know what they are The European Commission Facebook Company Prod- ple rarely read them. year about how well they
signing up for. noted Facebook's agree- ucts." Facebook will issue a blog protect people's data and
The guideline changes, ment to make the changes The terms and services spell post on the changes, how they profit from it. The
announced Thursday, are in April, saying the commis- out that even if users de- which go into effect July company is under inves-
largely cosmetic. The up- sion requested changes lete material from the site, 31, but won't require users tigation from the Federal
dates don't change Face- "to clearly inform consum- it might still exist on Face- to agree again to the up- Trade Commission over its
book's underlying policies. ers how the social network book's servers for 90 days. dated terms. privacy practices.q