You seem to have an unusual definition of dire.
In my defence, I explained that I do not have time to watch an entire stage or race live, so I prefer a highlights show hopefully with informed commentators.
When the BBC did a highlights show for the olympics, it was guesswork as to if or when there would be cycling included.
This years world champs coverage was good, but very comprehensive so I still needed to skip big chunks - caught a lot on catchup though.
I'm not a great fan of the GCN "highlights" show either. Clips of the race coverage, with the result that it could jump from 100km to go to 50km to 5km with no warning!
Each to their own, I know a lot of folks would watch full live coverage of all 21 stages of the TdeF.
We have be fortunate to have had the choice so far.