When we return from the seasonal break there will be a new look to the way in which Irish racing is broadcast with the new look Racing TV commencing broadcast on January 1st.
The rebrand from what is at present Racing UK reflects the strength of the Irish element providing full coverage from all 26 racecourses here as part of its full programme from a total of 61 courses.
This represents over 70 per cent of all racing from Britain and Ireland, including nearly 90% of all Group and Graded races.
Gary O’Brien will spearhead the Racing TV team in Ireland, where he will be joined by Kevin O’Ryan, Kate Harrington, Ruby Walsh and Donn McClean, while new programming and extended broadcast hours, including a daily Mark Your Card preview programme, are also being introduced.
Each of the 61 racecourses will have its own dedicated live stream available on Racing TV Extra, a feature of Racing TV’s digital platform. This will mean live coverage of every British and Irish race in its entirety, as well as uninterrupted paddock, going down and unsaddling coverage will be available to Racing TV members.
Racing TV Extra will be available via the website, mobile and TV Apps for all members, whose membership fee will remain the same.
“This is the start of an exciting new era for the channel,” said Richard FitzGerald, CEO of Racecourse Media Group, the parent company of Racing TV.
“Rebranding to Racing TV reflects the even greater quality and choice available from both sides of the Irish Sea. Racing television is at the heart of what we do.”
“From January 1st, Racing TV will be showing complete coverage from a total of 61 racecourses. Much work has been done over the last few months to ensure there is minimum congestion and clashes on race fixtures and times, and we’re delighted with how the schedule is looking.”
“And, as usual, members will enjoy all the live racing with ultra-fast pictures and minimal commercial messaging. In addition, members can view the channel on unlimited platforms. Other benefits include Club Days (free racing for members and guests), Winter Season Tickets (free racing), discounted racecourse admission, hospitality offers and the Racing TV magazine – and all for the same membership fee.”
Earlier this year, Racecourse Media Group (RMG) signed an agreement with Sports Information Services (SIS) for direct-to-home and streaming rights to all 26 Irish racecourses, plus Chelmsford City in Britain.
RMG manages the rights of many of the leading British racecourses, while SIS holds the horseracing rights to all Irish racecourses, via an agreement with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR).
Racing TV currently numbers more than 50,000 members in Britain and Ireland, in addition to 6,000 pubs and clubs.
It is working closely with Dublin based Digital agency Fifty-Three Six to generate awareness and drive subscriptions. We will be chatting to Tom Fox and Marcus McDonnell on the work they have been doing across Racing TV, the GAA, Allianz and the IRFU early in the New Year.
It’s an exciting time for Irish racing and for this new dawn of how its coverage will be broadcast in full across Ireland and Britain.
