Channel 4 Racing
| Channel 4 Racing | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Various |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Highflyer (1984-2012), IMG Sports Media (2013-2016) |
| Release | |
| Original network | Channel 4 |
| Original release | March 22, 1984 – December 31, 2016 |
| External links | |
| [{{#property:P856}} Website] | |
Channel 4 Racing is the name given to the horse racing coverage on the British television station Channel 4.
Contents
History
The first transmission of racing on the channel was on 22 March 1984 from Doncaster, as it took over midweek coverage which had previously been on ITV. On 5 October 1985, it took over ITV's Saturday afternoon coverage (previously The ITV Seven) when World of Sport finished. From the beginning of 1986, however, the amount of racing covered, especially on Saturday afternoons, was substantially reduced, and not until the late 1990s would it reach the scale it had enjoyed when it was on ITV.
Coverage
Major UK events covered by Channel 4 include the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Derby and Oaks from Epsom and the St Leger at Doncaster, Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival. These events have moved between the BBC and ITV over the years.
Internationally, it has covered the Breeders' Cup in the United States of America, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France and the Dubai World Cup in the UAE.
The Morning Line
The Morning Line is a Saturday morning look at the day's live horse racing on Channel 4. It provides tips and advice for the forthcoming day's racing. The show features contributions from a panel of racing pundits. Every Saturday the team of pundits have a virtual £100 with which they make their charity bet selections for the day.
Current portfolio
Channel 4 Racing mainly, but not exclusively, features meetings from the Racing UK courses having initially signed a three-year contract which ran between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2009 - the contract guarantees 80 days of racing each year on Channel 4.[1] Coverage is sponsored by Dubai.
From 2013, Channel 4 Racing became the exclusive home of free-to-air televised racing, having signed a four-year deal in March 2012. Coverage includes all major races including The Derby, Cheltenham Festival and for the first time on Channel 4, the Grand National and Royal Ascot, and international races including the Dubai World Cup and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.[2]
End of Channel 4 Racing
On New Years Day 2016 it was announced that Channel 4 had lost their horse racing rights after 32 years to ITV who would have exclusive free to air rights to British Horse Racing from the 1st January 2017 meaning Channel 4 will broadcast their final day of horse racing on 31st December 2016 and the following day the rights will move to ITV Sport. The reason for the change was said to be that ratings had dipped for most of the big meetings that used to be broadcast on the BBC up to 2012 since the move to Channel 4, under the new deal Channel 4 will show a minimum of 34 days of horse racing live on ITV with a further 60 days a year live on ITV4.[3]
Presenters
The line up was refreshed by new production company IMG Sports Media in 2013 and hosted Horse Racing on Channel 4 between 2013-2016. Presenters:
- Clare Balding (Major coverage)
- Nick Luck (Anchor)
- Jim McGrath
- Alice Plunkett
- Emma Spencer
- Tanya Stevenson (betting expert and production secretary)
- Mick Fitzgerald (formed jumps jockey)
- Graham Cunningham
- Gina Harding
- Rishi Persad
- Brian Gleeson (Cheltenham and Aintree festivals and more recently Royal Ascot)
Commentators:
- Simon Holt (main commentator)
- Richard Hoiles (when main commentator Simon Holt is absent)
Former Presenters from the Highflyer era include:
- Derek Thompson
- Lesley Graham
- John Francome
- Lord John Oaksey
- John McCririck
- Brough Scott
- Mike Cattermole
References
- ↑ Channel 4 contract signed Racing UK
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