SBC News Starting orders... Sky Sports prepares for launch of dedicated racing channel

Starting orders… Sky Sports prepares for launch of dedicated racing channel

SBC News Starting orders... Sky Sports prepares for launch of dedicated racing channel
Barney Francis – Sky Sports

Sky Sports is set to launch ‘Sky Sports Racing’ , which will replace ‘At The Races’ as the digital broadcaster’s dedicated horseracing channel.

The new racing channel becomes the UK broadcaster’s eleventh ‘dedicated sports channel’, and will feature +650 UK fixtures as well as exclusive international racing content.

Entering 2018, Sky UK confirmed that it would expand its racing content having taken a majority 51% stake in racing broadcaster At The Races (ATR).

Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports, commented on the upcoming launch: “We’ve seen a great reaction from our customers to launching dedicated sports channels and this takes us to another level. Horse racing is a massive sport that Sky has been involved in for two decades, now we will have a channel to give our customers more of what they love every day”.

Further to announcing Sky Sports Racing, Sky Sports has secured ten-year exclusive rights deal to showcase Chester Race Company fixtures. Moving forward, Sky Sports Racing will secure the broadcasts for live racing from Chester and Bangor-on-Dee tracks.

Backing Sky Sports Racing as its new partner, Richard Thomas, Chief Executive of Chester Race Company, said: “We’re delighted to announce this new deal and long-term partnership. We believe it secures a positive and exciting future for Chester and Bangor-on-Dee Racecourses and fits squarely with our values and ambitions. We know Sky Sports will move the dial in the way our racing is covered but more than that we are excited by the prospect of how we can communicate and promote racing and the Chester brand further.”

SBC News Starting orders... Sky Sports prepares for launch of dedicated racing channel
Matthew Imi – At The Races

Matthew Imi, CEO of At The Races, has backed Sky Sports Racing’s exclusive rights with Chester Company, stating that the new channel will become the leading destination for all racing viewers.

“There is no better home for our new channel production facility than Sky Sports’ studios which are the best in the business and we believe Sky Sports Racing is set to be a game changer for racing. Later this year we look forward to presenting our plans in more detail to the major constituents in our sport and racing fans more generally.”

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