SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
British horseracing has announced an exclusive domestic TV rights deal with ITV which will commence from January 1st 2017.
Following the completion of the tender process, the four year deal will see the broadcaster show almost 100 days of racing per year with a minimum of 34 on ITV’s main channel.
The races will include Cheltenham Festival, the Crabbie’s Grand National Meeting from Aintree, the Investec Derby Festival from Epsom Downs, Royal Ascot and QIPCO British Champions Day from Ascot, Qatar Goodwood Festival, Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival from York and the Ladbrokes St Leger from Doncaster.
Aside from the 34 fixtures on the main channel, ITV4 will air 60 races alongside a preview show which’ll be on each Saturday morning.
The deal enhances ITV’s already impressive sports offering, the broadcaster currently has the rights to England national football team coverage, the Tour de France, and the French Open. 2016 will also see the Six Nations broadcast on ITV for the first time, and it’ll also have live coverage of Euro 2016 in the summer.
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said: “ITV is delighted to be the home of British horseracing from 2017 and we are thrilled that the sport has chosen us to be their partners. ITV and ITV4 will showcase more than 90 days of races, which include some of the best days in the British sporting calendar and we want our coverage to reach not only its loyal, core audience, but beyond, by capturing the full enjoyment of this most wonderful of sports.”
Richard FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), who headed racing’s negotiating team, which included UK racecourses and British Champions Series, said: “ITV has made a strong and compelling four-year commitment to British horseracing. ITV places itself at the heart of popular culture and we look forward to working closely with the broadcaster in ensuring racing remains in this fantastic shop window.
