THE televising of British horseracing will undergo a seismic revolution next year after ITV sensationally defeated Channel 4 to become the sport's new terrestrial partner and the next home of the Grand National, Cheltenham Festival, Derby and Royal Ascot. Following months of intense negotiations ITV, the Racing Post understands, has secured an exclusive contract after agreeing to pay in the region of £30 million over four years for the right to regain access to a sport it last showcased 31 years ago.
Channel 4 was dying. This may shake up a very tired format. Chapman would be a welcome addition. I strongly hope they don't keep the same presenter team.
Beginning of the end for terrestrial TV racing I can't help but feel that horse racing will come to regret this decision. Only 25 days will be on ITV1 and the rest is all going to be buried on ITV4 with possibly a studio based show Put it this way in 2017 the first days ITV1 will show will be the Cheltenham festival
I hope they used to do with racing in show other sports then cut to racing for the race itself and then leave as soon as they passed the post. The ITV4 thing may be a blessing as I would rather a very full and professional coverage on a lesser channel than a half hearted investment on the ITV 1, I believe itv4 is still free view? Great shout on Chappers as well, we need some personality as at present it's devoid of it. Chappers leading a team in the style of the old Channel four, a couple of knowlegable pundits (in the style Down and McGrath), a funny guy (Francomb) a female ( Lydia Hislop) a jockey (anyone but Fitzy, (Wally Swinburn a good call)) and a betting ring guy ( from the 606 ranks, wasn't there a guy at one time on here named after an old gold cup winner? )
Matt Chapman might be a bit marmite but at least he is a guy who has charisma, passion, and that crucial ability to relay racing back to the working man. He is hugely underrated in my view. I personally think he will be a huge asset and become much-loved if he heads up prime time racing on ITV. Interviews will certainly be more revealing with Chapman doing the questioning!
Stick stole my first reaction when I heard the news .. If only! Marmite is right about Chapman .. I'm not a fan. He may be knowledgeable - I wouldn't know as I can't look at his smarmy face long enough to find out! McCririck started out on ITV didn't he ................
Chapman would be a great asset wouldn't he. Great craic. Out of the existing C4 team I'd only keep Nick Luck. Alistair Down really needs to be brought in too, he adds some badly needed eloquence to proceedings and just seems a true fan of jump racing.
I cannot see the ITV 7 returning. They may not have seven races on many occasions plus they would now have to compete with the Scoop 6, which did not exist thirty years ago. ITV4 is available on Freeview, channel 24. When ITV had club football, they used to show Europa League teatime kick offs on ITV4 and the matches after all the British teams were eliminated. Now they show a Bundesliga highlights magazine program and some motorsport (e.g. British touring cars). Folks nominating their fantasy presenting teams for the new ITV racing coverage could end up sadly disappointed. Perhaps you have not noticed how much of the TV output these days, especially on the commercial channels, is produced by external production companies. Look at all the reality TV nonsense that Simon Cowell’s Syco produces and how much other stuff comes from the likes of Endemol and Wall To Wall. It is not beyond the wit of the production company IMG, who currently supply coverage to Ch4, to bid to supply ITV with the same team but reformatted. Or their Ch4 predecessor Sunset & Vine might employ many of the same faces. If ITV have paid £30 million for the rights for four years, they clearly see some way of generating more than £7.5 million a year from it after production costs. That will surely not all be from bookies’ adverts...
I tend to agree with you. For a start, will ITV and ITV4 show as many race meetings as Channel 4 currently televise? Also, will they keep The Morning Line? (although I'm less bothered about that).
Apparently a morning line show will be done on ITV4 which sounds fine There will be 34 racedays on ITV1 and 60 on ITV4. I guess it is good that terrestrial TV coverage will continue but I do wonder what the quality of the ITV4 days will be like. Also ITV is all about ratings. If they continue to be low and I think they will then don't be surprised to see all racing bar the Grand National on ITV4 within 2 years of the contract. ITV show French Open tennis which clashes with the Derby weekend. are they really going to put the tennis on itv4 when they could probably get more viewers on itv1?
"It will broadcast a minimum of 34 days annually on the main ITV channel, with another 60 shown on ITV 4. Reports suggest the four-year deal is worth £30m. "The unprecedented level of interest in the tender shows what an attractive proposition the sport is," said Richard FitzGerald, chief executive of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), who headed racing's negotiating team "This is reflected in the new deal, which will generate increased revenues for racing."
Well I don't watch racing on terrestrial tv as I live in Germany but all I've heard on here for months is that C4 racing is ****. Now ITV have it and suddenly you're all concerned about coverage? Come on lads give it a chance. I know you all want 8 hours racing per day on BBC1 but that isn't realistic so let's see what ITV come up with. Can't be worse than C4 listening to you lot
Hopefully they can entice back John Rickman as anyone who remembers the ITV 7 is bound to remember this hat doffing and friendly character who in real life was just as nice off screen as on.
I suspect that ITV will have a monopoly on all the big races. But they are bound to be the only ones in which Joe Public will be interested. For the horse racing enthusiasts, there is 24 hour horse racing (almost) on ATR for the rest. ATR also shows most of the decent racing at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse and also pops across to France. American and Australian racing is covered also.
Haven't read the detail but hopefully ITV's coverage won't be almost entirely reliant on funding from the horse loving Arab dictator (well I assume he's fond of them even if he's not adverse to turning a blind eye whilst one of his lackeys loads them up with drugs) so the endless Dubai adverts can be dispensed with along with Graham Cunningham.
It's about time they upgraded to HD though. Sometimes the Irish coverage is as if there are no fans or sound there and they film with a Nokia or something.
