# GCN+ being closed, December 2023

**URL:** <https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [November 15, 2023, 11:51am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307 "2023-11-15T11:51:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![berto2cj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/berto2cj/32/4413_2.png) [@berto2cj](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/berto2cj)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 6:52pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/89 "2023-11-15T18:52:51Z")

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Could be worse, could be stuck with NBC 30 min recaps at 3 am

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**Author:** ![Malcolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/malcolm/32/50804_2.png) [@Malcolm](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Malcolm)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/90 "2023-11-15T19:11:45Z")

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£39.99 in the UK for GCN+ (with no ads)

£6.99 a month, so £83.88 a year in the UK, with no option to pay yearly for a discount, for Discovery Standard (with ads)

No free trial either to see how good/bad it is.

I guess there is additional content on Discovery, but I was only really interested in the cycling to be honest.

With other subscriptions gradually going up in price I have to be picky about which ones I keep that really give the best value.

I suspect I will just sub to Discovery for the months of the grand tours, although ITV 4 in the UK usually have the TDF live and highlights of the Giro and Vuelta.

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**Author:** ![Power13](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/power13/32/92171_2.png) [@Power13](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Power13)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/91 "2023-11-15T19:27:31Z")

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> [@patricksudol](#):
>
> Having not used FLO before can someone give me the TL;DR why FLO is so bad?

It was once great…reasonable subscription fees, a monthly option vs. yearly and excellent selection of races and coverage.

But then they lost rights to some races (primarily the Giro and other Italian races)) and despite the loss of content, dramatically raised prices and removed the monthly option. So you were paying far more for substantially less.

then the service got glitchy as hell and they were inserting ads into the coverage _all the time,_ sometimes right in the closing KM’s of a race.

> [@AlphaDogCycling](#):
>
> Honestly, if the UCI / ASO / RCS / Flanders Sports / etc. want to grow cycling in the US, they need to pull their head out of their a$$ and put together a GCN+ type

Different organizers so they couldn’t care less what the others are doing, let alone bothering to partner with them for a US-based business model.

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**Author:** ![tgarson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/tgarson/32/149676_2.png) [@tgarson](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/tgarson)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/92 "2023-11-15T19:33:05Z")

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This blows.

I felt like cycling was primed for a comeback with the pandemic bike mania + the possibility that Netflix could convert new people to follow the sport. The pandemic cycle was obviously a huge bubble, but surely some would stay interested longer term.

Between this, all the talk of mergers, the best team in the world not being able to find a title sponsor, talk of breakaway leagues, etc, it is feeling a bit like the cycling sky is falling.

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**Author:** ![jmzb](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jmzb/32/54216_2.png) [@jmzb](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/jmzb)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/93 "2023-11-15T19:49:48Z")

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This is the same lack of coordination/ misaligned incentives that has Jumbo Visma and others looking to create a new world tour cycling league.

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**Author:** ![jz91](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/53a042/32.png) [@jz91](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/jz91)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/94 "2023-11-15T20:03:33Z")

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> [@hubcyclist](#):
>
> let’s face it, producing that content isn’t as profitable as producing clickbait lol

Was just wondering, how much did it cost them to produce even the latest Taiwan Kom video?

They say it’s thanks to the companies sponsoring the trip that they managed to go there, but still, for a 15 mins video the producing costs must be rather steep. Perhaps they will amortise the cost by making other videos during their stay there.

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**Author:** ![Power13](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/power13/32/92171_2.png) [@Power13](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Power13)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/95 "2023-11-15T20:06:45Z")

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> [@jmzb](#):
>
> This is the same lack of coordination/ misaligned incentives

100%…and highlights the imbalance of power / money within the sport.

Hell, even the UCI is nothing but a whipping boy for the race organizers…none of them care about “the sport”, they just care about their slice of the pie.

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**Author:** ![jiffylush](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jiffylush/32/128861_2.png) [@jiffylush](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/jiffylush)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/96 "2023-11-15T20:07:10Z")

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So I guess discovery/warner/whatever got tired of cancelling things that caused mass outrage (the new looney tunes movie) and wanted to cancel something with a much smaller fan base (cycling in the us)

☹

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**Author:** ![NickL](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/nickl/32/62056_2.png) [@NickL](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/NickL)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/97 "2023-11-15T20:13:21Z")

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You forgot the best part about Flo - race replays always had thumbnails showing the winner crossing the line, or better yet, the videos showed the last 10 seconds of the race in the opening credits…

🤯

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**Author:** ![Power13](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/power13/32/92171_2.png) [@Power13](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Power13)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/98 "2023-11-15T20:21:23Z")

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Some clarification / reemphasis from Daniel Lloyd on a few points…

> <https://twitter.com/daniellloyd1/status/1724835405625717044?s=20>

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**Author:** ![AldridgePrior](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/aldridgeprior/32/139066_2.png) [@AldridgePrior](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/AldridgePrior)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/99 "2023-11-15T22:09:51Z")

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> [@carytb](#):
>
> £6.99/month. No yearly option which is strange.

plus the pleasure of adverts being served up to you even though you’re paying subs. Fckers.

So if I use Discovery+, it’ll be very reluctantly, and only for TdF & Vuelta, so less income for them vs my GCN+ sub. 🤦

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**Author:** ![RONDAL](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rondal/32/7721_2.png) [@RONDAL](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/RONDAL)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/100 "2023-11-15T22:13:25Z")

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I’m not sure how they are going to do this as they are terminating access by the sounds of the email

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**Author:** ![TheBandit](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/thebandit/32/46399_2.png) [@TheBandit](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/TheBandit)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 5:18am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/101 "2023-11-16T05:18:01Z")

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I sometimes wonder if professional cycling is actually trying to create its own demise…

All we want is a modern and reliable way to watch the sport.

A system that works for everyone, regardless of where they live.

We very nearly had that.

At this point I almost hope the Saudi’s buy it, at least we’d be able to watch it.

Disappointing.

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**Author:** ![mcalista](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/mcalista/32/92377_2.png) [@mcalista](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/mcalista)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 6:08am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/102 "2023-11-16T06:08:30Z")

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> [@jz91](#):
>
> > [@hubcyclist](#):
> >
> > let’s face it, producing that content isn’t as profitable as producing clickbait lol
> 
> Was just wondering, how much did it cost them to produce even the latest Taiwan Kom video?
> 
> They say it’s thanks to the companies sponsoring the trip that they managed to go there, but still, for a 15 mins video the producing costs must be rather steep. Perhaps they will amortise the cost by making other videos during their stay there.

Taiwan is THE bike tech cluster in the world. I am sure that GCN shot a number of factory visits, about-to-be-released new tech, etc while they there, and will slowly release the videos over the next few weeks.

It’s a quiet time until TDU in January, so I am sure they will be glad to have some videos on slow release over the next few weeks.

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**Author:** ![otnemeM](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/otnemem/32/129036_2.png) [@otnemeM](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/otnemeM)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 6:20am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/103 "2023-11-16T06:20:13Z")

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I have acess to regular feed/linear Eurosport 1 HD and Eurosport 2 HD and still subscribed to GCN+.  
Ad-free, break-free, whole CX season, easy to find content _and_ some pretty good cycling docs for €40/month? How could I not?

Having previously subscribed to Eurosport +/Player, I won’t be subscribing to Discovery+. Service was shite, could never find anything older than 3 or something days especially alternative feeds. Also way more expensive and with less content while sponsoring the same overlords who just cost a few dozen jobs and clearly don’t value cycling fans? Nah.

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**Author:** ![danielm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/danielm/32/7725_2.png) [@danielm](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/danielm)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 10:11am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/104 "2023-11-16T10:11:59Z")

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I wonder when my classic Eurosport “annual pass” (£39.99) will be retired and I’ll be moved over to Discovery+…

CORPORATE SYNERGIES – gotta love 'em. Somehow they always seem to be worse for the consumer.

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**Author:** ![RONDAL](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rondal/32/7721_2.png) [@RONDAL](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/RONDAL)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 1:01pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/105 "2023-11-16T13:01:41Z")

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So for those in Canada and other regions, what are the alternatives now available that ISNT flo. Tried them, complete and utter waste of money.

Already have VPN for GCN so trying to see what I can flip to for 2024.

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**Author:** ![Pbase](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/pbase/32/969_2.png) [@Pbase](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Pbase)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 1:07pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/106 "2023-11-16T13:07:11Z")

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Sadly, in the past, this usually involved watching some pirate feed, and praying there was no malware involved.

I only paid for GCN once because I don’t want to do the VPN thing, and their rights were frequently restricted in the US, but this is just a massive loss for the cycling viewership community. I can’t help but wonder, if they had publicized this and doubled prices, could they have survived? I really think people would have paid the money.

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**Author:** ![BigRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BigRed](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/BigRed)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 1:20pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/107 "2023-11-16T13:20:21Z")

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I agree, there was definitely a route to a product that was a nice (albeit not enormous) profit making business. GCN+ never increased prices during a period of high inflation. I’m confident a 50% increase would have been paid by many.

But they also could have saved a few costs. I think an hours post race show with four presenters/pundits for just about every stage of every minor race, seemingly irrespective of the size of audience was excessive.

Eurosport player was a car crash a few years ago so I’m not confident in the new solution. Also, they will probably get less revenue from me. GCN+ £40 for a year, Discovery+ £6.99pcm so Feb-Jun equals £34.95 before I switch to ITV for the Tour and Vuelta 🤷‍♂️

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**Author:** ![Quadzilla\_Jr](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/quadzilla_jr/32/81784_2.png) [@Quadzilla\_Jr](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Quadzilla_Jr)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 1:24pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/gcn-being-closed-december-2023/88307/108 "2023-11-16T13:24:08Z")

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Ouch. I literally just bought (last month) a new MacBook to replace the 2012 Mac Mini in my paincave, for the primary purpose of streaming GCN+.

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