British horseracing will continue to be broadcast on UK terrestrial television but will switch from the BBC to Channel 4 from 2013 following an exclusive domestic rights deal which includes the Grand National, the Derby and Royal Ascot.
Channel 4’s financial commitment to racing over the next four years amounts to one of its largest programming outlays and continues its 28-year association with British racing.
“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,” said Jay Hunt, Channel 4’s chief creative officer. “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.”
A highly competitive domestic TV rights bidding process saw interest from a range of broadcasters, with Channel 4 winning the rights to a number of popular races which are currently televised by the BBC, which will be shown alongside the channel’s existing 80 days of racing it broadcasts.
“Our coverage this year will mark the end of a partnership covering some of the key events of British racing that extends over 50 years,” said BBC director of sport Barbara Slater. “The BBC are proud of their long heritage of broadcasting horse racing and put in as competitive a bid as possible in the current climate.”
Negotiations were headed by Racecourse Media Group (RMG), alongside The Jockey Club, Ascot Racecourse and British Champions Series Ltd as rights holders, with Martin Baker, director of commercial affairs, at the helm of the Channel 4 team.
“Channel 4 has shown a total commitment to our sport,” said Richard FitzGerald, chief executive of RMG, who headed racing’s negotiating team. “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.”
Jamie Aitchison, Channel 4’s Sports Editor, added: “This is an opportunity for us to work together to grow the sport, painting the full picture of both the Flat and Jumps seasons to attract new viewers whilst rewarding those loyal viewers we value so highly. Channel 4 fully understands the heritage and cultural importance of British racing, but also the sport’s thirst for a bright future, and we relish the challenge ahead.”
The new arrangement will see all 35 races in the QIPCO British Champions Series of premier Flat racing broadcast on Channel 4.
“Since its inception, we’ve aimed to showcase the very best of British Flat racing within the QIPCO British Champions Series via a single domestic terrestrial broadcaster,” said Rod Street, chief executive of British Champions Series. “We believe this new deal with Channel 4 will make the Series even easier to follow for the racing and wider sports fan. Hugely exciting times lie ahead.”
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