EMG / Gravity Media Italy has announced the renewal of its multi year partnership with RCS Sport. The shared objective is to try to further enhance the quality of television coverage for the most important cycling events on the Italian calendar over the coming years, as the provider has claimed in a statement.

A 360 degree production and broadcasting service will be provided, tailored to the needs of the rights holder (RCS Sport), the regions involved and the sponsors. EMG / Gravity Media Italy will be responsible for producing nine World Tour competitions. The most significant of these, in terms of media exposure and production format, is the Giro d’Italia, which this year reaches its 108th edition. This internationally sporting event consists of 21 stages, covering a total of 3,413.3 kilometres.

The renewed partnership began this season in March with Strade Bianche and Tirreno Adriatico, followed by Milano Torino (19 March), Milano Sanremo (22 March), and the Giro d’Abruzzo (15 to 18 April). It now continues with the Giro d’Italia, and will be followed by the Giro Women (6 to 13 July), Gran Piemonte (9 October) and Il Lombardia (11 October 2025).

Technological features

Live drones will be used during the Giro d’Italia, with footage integrated into the main broadcast feed. Another new feature this year was the Sanremo Women’s Race, held simultaneously with the men’s race on a parallel course.

To manage this dual event, EMG / Gravity Media Italy carried out two simultaneous productions using the Outside Broadcast truck NOVA 128. The signal was transmitted via two aircraft, received at two locations and distributed through multiplexed satellite beams to try to cover both races and ensure aircraft autonomy.

The camera set up featured nine HD signals from seven motorbikes and two helicopters, 11 4G and 5G signals, one satellite drone and 13 fixed cameras in the finish and pre finish areas.

Giro d’Italia coverage and content

The media producer in Italy is responsible for producing the international live feed, along with additional content for the Giro d’Italia 2025, the flagship event among RCS Sport productions. This includes a weekly magazine show and a multiview feed sent via satellite to Warner Bros. Discovery, allowing viewers on Discovery Plus and MAX platforms to choose an alternative viewing experience. This will combine the international signal with live feeds from three mobile cameras on motorbikes and helicopters.

As is tradition, the mountain stages are expected to be decisive. Special focus will be placed on Stage 20 (Saturday 31 May), from Verres to Sestriere, spanning 203 kilometres with 4,500 metres of climbing. For many insiders, this is seen as the key stage of the Giro 2025. It will include the Col de Lys (13.7 kilometres with a 12 percent maximum gradient), leading to the Colle delle Finestre and the Cima Coppi at 2,178 metres. This is the fifth time the Colle delle Finestre has featured in the Giro, notably in 2018 when Chris Froome triumphed after a memorable solo breakaway.

Logistics are a major challenge in this production. More than 120 staff members, including technicians and operators, will be deployed to move from one stage to the next on a daily basis.

The mobile television compound, with OB trucks and support vehicles adapted to each location, has the objective of ensuring seamless transmission along a route that winds through the Italian peninsula. Additionally, this year’s edition features the ‘Grande Partenza’ taking place in Albania and including an individual time trial in Tirana.

Production and features

One of the features of this edition is the use of live graphics, including pixel tracking systems that display rider data in real time. An operator will manage data visualisation using the Velon system.

AI enhanced GPS tracking will look forward to allowing the race to be followed in greater detail, showing each rider’s position, time gap and distance to the finish line, visible during aerial shots.

The entire television production involves more than 15 mobile units, supporting both host production and rights holders. High frame rate cameras will be deployed to try to capture every detail. Drones will be used extensively, particularly in the mountain stages.

Claudio Cavallotti, Managing Director of EMG / Gravity Media Italy, explained: “This renewed partnership with RCS Sport allows us to continue our strategy of growth and innovation. During the previous three year collaboration, we introduced important technological advances and managed complex logistics to deliver an unprecedented viewing experience”.

About the international group, which includes markets such as France and Belgium, adds that it “enables us to bring together valuable expertise and meet the specific needs of each production. Together, we are raising the quality of cycling coverage to new levels and delivering live broadcasts of some of the most stunning and challenging races in the world”.

“We have built a production model that guarantees excellence and consistency. Our ambition is to exceed the standards of previous editions and bring cycling fans even closer to the heart of the action”, he concludes.