Channel 4 loses Horse Racing rights to ITV

After more than 30 years, horse racing will be returning to ITV as of next New Year's Day as they have signed a four-year exclusive deal for terrestrial coverage, defeating the current rights holders Channel 4. A Sky bid was reportedly rejected and rumours that the BBC were going to try and get at least some racing back on their screens proved false as they apparantly did not bid at all.

Full details are still to be announced but the expectation is that whilst the big name and classic meetings such as the Derby, Grand National, Royal Ascot etc will be on ITV 1, the regular fare will be on ITV 4.

No news yet on presenters, commentators, pundits etc

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/...nel-4.html

What difference will it make. Racing uk and Attheraces do a good job of covering racing.

I hope that isn't going to interfere with Tipping Point

There will be a few LONG FACES at Channel 4. I thought their contract was pretty STABLE. Does anyone know what the TRIGGER was? Will it be on ITV FURLONG? Any time a big sporting event becomes available all the TV companies seem to want to JOCKEY for position.

the figures viewing on Channel 4 have been falling was less than 500,000 for the boxing day races which is one of the best days of the year for racing.

have to say sat morning without the morning line will be hard to get used to was that a nice fryup waiting for soccer saturday starting at 12

(01-01-2016 22:26 )Zai47 Wrote:  What difference will it make.

The biggest events will get more viewers. That's the difference.

I wonder if this deal will SADDLE the new broadcaster with a lot of debt. I would HAYt for that to happen.

To be honest only really watch the actual live races on Channel 4 because usally have money on them as Bet365 do some great offers on all the C4 Races. Surely C4 racing team will be freelancers and the production is a done by a 2nd party so surely it will just be the channel that changes

(02-01-2016 06:30 )HannahsPet Wrote:  surely it will just be the channel that changes

But look at what happened in 2013 when Channel 4 won the exclusive contract the last time - Alastair Down, Mike Cattermole, Derek Thompson and John McCririck were dropped, and John Francombe walked away.

Simon Holt and Richard Hoiles will almost certainly be kept as number 1 & 2 commentators as they are the best in the business, but the rest of the presentation team have been criticised for their blandness and seen by many as the reason why the viewing figures have plummetted.

(01-01-2016 22:58 )HannahsPet Wrote:  have to say sat morning without the morning line will be hard to get used to was that a nice fryup waiting for soccer saturday starting at 12

ITV have announced that they will be doing a similar type of programme on Saturday mornings