Channel 4 Secures Horse Racing Rights
British horseracing will be broadcast on UK terrestrial television exclusively by Channel 4 from 2013 for at least the next four years after the broadcaster tabled a winning bid to expand its current portfolio, which was accepted by representatives of Britain’s second biggest spectator sport.
Channel 4 will now broadcast the John Smith’s Grand National Meeting from Aintree, the Investec Derby Festival from Epsom Downs, Royal Ascot and QIPCO British Champions Day from Ascot – which are currently televised by the BBC – alongside the existing 80 days of racing it broadcasts.
The new arrangement will see all 35 races in the QIPCO British Champions Series of premier Flat racing broadcast on Channel 4.
The new deal provides substantially increased revenues for British racing, which successfully attracted nearly 5 million extra viewers from its domestic TV coverage on Channel 4 last year (42.2m 2011).
Attendances also grew to a record 6.15m people in 2011.
Negotiations were headed by Racecourse Media Group (RMG), alongside The Jockey Club, Ascot Racecourse and British Champions Series Ltd as rightsholders, with Martin Baker, director of commercial affairs, at the helm of the Channel 4 team.
Richard FitzGerald, chief executive of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), who headed racing’s negotiating team, said: ‘Channel 4 has shown a total commitment to our sport. This new deal will not only deliver increased revenues for British racing, but with all of our sport’s crown jewels in its portfolio, Channel 4 offers a compelling vision to innovate the way racing is broadcast. They have also committed to use diverse programming platforms to promote our sport more widely. This is a great opportunity for racing in the long-term.’
‘The BBC has been a fantastic partner for British racing and helped the sport to grow its attendances and TV audience in recent times. We look forward to continuing to work together through radio, online and TV news coverage over the next four years until the next TV negotiation period.’
Jay Hunt, Channel 4’s chief creative officer, commented: ‘We are delighted Channel 4 is to become the sole destination for British horseracing after securing such iconic events as Royal Ascot, the John Smith’s Grand National and the Investec Derby.’
‘These will sit alongside our established coverage of The Cheltenham Festival and major Flat meetings such as Glorious Goodwood and the Ebor Festival and means we can extend our distinctive approach to all the crown jewels of the sport.’
Simon Bazalgette, group chief executive of The Jockey Club, added: ‘Channel 4 has been a tremendous partner for British racing to date and this new deal is a huge boost for our sport. I believe the vision and nature of this new arrangement will help to make a step-change in the way we broadcast the sport.’
‘Armed with racing’s crown jewels, including the John Smith’s Grand National Meeting and the Investec Derby Festival, Channel 4 now has the platform to enhance the promotion of our sport all-year-round.’
