Citing a decision by its parent company, Warner Bros Discovery, Global Cycling Network (GCN) has confirmed that it is closing the GCN+ premium content platform and the GCN app. The popular GCN YouTube channels and website are unaffected by this move.
GCN+ subscribers have today received confirmation by e-mail that their subscription will end on December 19, 2023. For those with a subscription that would still be running after this date, subscribers will receive a partial refund.
Originally offered as a premium ‘Race Pass’ subscription service via the GCN app, and rebranded as GCN+, the platform has been popular with cycling fans in a number of key markets around the world.
Offering fans uninterrupted live and on-demand coverage of men’s and women’s pro-cycling events, coverage included high profile Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, La Vuelta), as well as Monuments, (Paris Roubaix, Milan Sanremo, etc.) and a diverse line-up of cyclocross and MTB race programming.
According to a statement released by GCN, the decision to shelve GCN+ was due to a decision by Warner Bros Discovery to consolidate its streaming services via fewer outlets. For those in Europe, live cycling can instead now be viewed via Discovery+ as well as Eurosport. In the coming weeks, existing GCN+ subscribers will be informed about an alternative platform to view live racing.
For UK based subscribers, cycling content can be access via a Discovery+ Standard plan (previously called Entertainment & Sport), priced at ￡6.99/month. For GCN+ subscribers in the USA, ‘information regarding availability of live cycling events is not available at this time’ and will be updated in the coming weeks.
According to the GCN team, the reason for the closure of GCN+… ‘is not because it didn’t work or it was underperforming. [Instead] it’s that the media industry landscape has changed.’
The e-mail sent to GCN+ subscribers outlined the closure of the app, as well as the handling of payments & refunds…
We are sending you this email as a valued subscriber of GCN+. We are very sorry to have to inform you that the GCN+ service and the GCN app will close on 19 December 2023.
What does this mean for you?
- Access: Your subscription contract will end and you will be unable to access the GCN+ service and GCN app from 19 December 2023. Following closure, you can still use your GCN account on the GCN website at globalcyclingnetwork.com and the GCN Shop at shop.globalcyclingnetwork.com.
- Upcoming payments: The GCN+ service will close on 19 December 2023 and you will be charged for any upcoming subscription payments up to that time. If you do not want to be charged for any upcoming payments, you can cancel your subscription prior to your next renewal date, however your access to the service will then end on that renewal date.
- Refunds: If you have a subscription to the GCN+ service which is still running on 19 December 2023, we will arrange for a refund of any amounts that you have paid in advance for access to the service after that date. Please make sure you have a valid and up-to-date payment method. Refunds will be paid automatically, but in some instances may take some time to process for technical reasons.
Data: Following closure, your personal data will continue to be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
‘We encourage you to contact our customer service team here to answer any additional questions about GCN+ and your subscription.
Thank you for subscribing to GCN+, we are very grateful for your support and for joining us on this journey.
