The fall and rise of Attheraces

mike2084

Attheraces could close on Feb 21
This is a complicated article but I think it could mean that ATR might be wound up on February 21st.

From Racing Post

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/...uk&page=latest5

Termination time looms for attheraces contract


by Howard Wright



BRITISH racing's single biggest media rights' deal - the ten-year contract between Attheraces and 49 racecourses, which is due to deliver a total of £307 million over the period – could be wound up on February 21.

It emerged on Wednesday that Attheraces gave the racecourses the statutory 90 days' notice to terminate the contract on October 20, after a clause connected to Tote betting margins was triggered.

That period runs out in a week’s time, when the consortium of Arena Leisure, BSkyB and Channel 4, which owns the media and betting company, has a further 30 days to decide whether to go ahead with the action.

Whether Attheraces goes the whole hog and calls time on the deal will depend on whether a compensatory deal can be negotiated in the meantime – and whether racecourses would accept far less money for their pictures.

Sources close to the action suggest that discussions which have already taken place in private have made very little progress towards averting the crisis, although many racecourses have not become aware of the seriousness of the situation until the last few days.

The biggest consequence facing the racecourses, which would hit the smaller independents hardest, is that they could be forced to hand back a significant proportion of the money they have received so far.

In three annual payments, made in July each year, the courses have shared out a total of over £90 million.

The potential payback covers only the interactive element of the deal with Attheraces, and does not include payment for terrestrial television pictures.
However, the cost to the courses will still amount to a total of around £53m - a significant proportion of which they have already spent collectively on track and facility improvements and prize-money over the three-year period.

In the background, there is a separate threat to the Attheraces contract.

The Office of Fair Trading has indicated it believes the method of dealing collectively with the 49 racecourses, which did not sign up to a five-year agreement with GG-Media, breached the competition laws.

If the OFT were to go ahead with this approach, the series of options could range from unravelling the deal to putting in a new structure from an agreed date.

Whatever the terms of an agreement, the racecourses would lose out in one way or another, either from a payback or a new set of terms that would be unlikely to match the current deal.

The OFT, which is also engaged in controversial debate with the BHB over aspects of racing's administration that it believes are anti-competitive, had been expected to issue a ruling before Christmas.

That did not come about, and it is now understood that its officials have told the Racecourse Association that it will delay a ruling,possibly until the beginning of April.

The OFT is aware of the Attheraces' challenge, and may have decided to hold its fire until the outcome is known.

Attheraces ’ 90-day notice is understood to have been issued under Schedule 7 of the contract,which triggers repayment of money by the courses when certain commercial conditions are not met.

In this case, it concerns margins achieved over all betting platforms by the Tote, which operates pool betting through Attheraces’ interactive facility.

The contract, which allows for variable percentage payments to the Tote, Arena Leisure, BSkyB and the racecourses from betting revenue, refers to a minimum level of 20 per cent for the Tote’s gross profits – the amount left after punters have been paidout - over a three-month period.

Previously, the Tote margin was about 22.7 per cent, but following the decision to cut deductions on win and place betting, the figure fell to 19.5 per cent, prompting the Attheraces action.

Attempts to renegotiate the Tote’s takeout from Attheraces have failed, leaving the company to turn its focus on to the racecourses to shore up its business plan.

Dec4

Highly unlikely - it's just a tactic to renegotiate the amount they pay for media rights, which were bought at the top of the market.
Their business plan based on interactive betting was never a runner ( pardon the pun ), that added to a crap platform, better odds with betting exchanges and a host of other problems meant that it was never, as currently structured, going to be a viable business.

DMC

I don't think it will collapse either... Less money is better than none, to the racecourses. They dont want an ITV Digital scenario.

mike2084

Dosen't look like collapsing- Most likely they'll lose courses to the relaunched Racing Channel as these 3 stories from Racing Post show

Story 1

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/...o.uk&page=top13

Renegotiation beckons for attheraces rights contract


by Howard Wright



ATTHERACES and 49 British racecourses are heading inevitably and inexorably towards renegotiation of the £307 million media rights contract they signed in June 2001, with industry sources suggesting that the tracks could lose out by at least £120 million when revised terms have been thrashed out.

Publicly, Attheraces and the Racecourse Association, which negotiated the ten-year deal on behalf of those courses that did not engage with GG-Media over the rights to live pictures, were expressing optimism on Thursday, after the news broke that the contract was under serious threat.

Neither side was able to go into detail, for reasons of confidentiality, but Attheraces managing director Ian Hogg said: “We hope to be able to resolve the issues as soon aspossible, and Attheraces remains firmly committed to the future of UK horseracing.”

A statement on behalf of RCA chief executive Stephen Atkin said: “We have been in regular dialogue with Attheraces about the agreement. To comment any further would upset the delicate balance of these negotiations, which I am confident will result in all parties affirming their belief and commitment to the Attheraces project.”

However, sources who know the background to the crisis were admitting privately that the chances of a deal being struck before next Thursday, when Attheraces’ notice to terminate the contract runs out, are slim.

If no agreement is reached, Attheraces has a further 30 days, until February 21, to close the contract, though there is no suggestion it would be torn up completely.

The existing arrangement for pictures and interactive betting is most likely to be continued, but on terms generally much less favourable to the racecourses, with viewers of racing on Attheraces, BBC and Channel 4 noticing no apparent difference.

Attheraces gave notice on the grounds of a clause in the contract connected to Tote gross margins - the amount left when winning punters have been paid out - which the media and betting company said was related to last year’s reduction in deductions from Tote wins and place pools.

However, it was confirmed on Thursday that the Tote, which has an arrangement with Attheraces to take pool bets in return for three per cent commission, is itself not party to this clause.

Negotiations on the Tote’s offer to reduce its take have stalled, and Atkin confirmed: “If issues have arisen in relation to the Tote, these are to be resolved between the RCA and Attheraces by good faith negotiations.”

The Office of Fair Trading’sdecision to put its ruling over the competition element of the Attheraces-RCA contract on ice until April 1, with a 90-day appeal process to follow, has added to the sense of inevitability about a renegotiation.

In view of the OFT’s objections to collective selling, future discussions with Attheraces would almost certainly be conducted by racecourse acting as groups or individuals, and not by the central body of the RCA.

Though all courses are worried about the future, medium-sized courses with terrestrial television contracts, which were understood to have generally come off well under the original contract, are likely to be hardest hit.
The handful of major courses would probably be best placed to withstand the blow, since their non-media rightsrevenue streams, from such as admissions, box rental and corporate business, are significant.

In this respect, the huge capital developments being carried out by or in the pipeline for such as Cheltenham and Ascot are unlikely to be affected.


At the other end of the scale, smaller independent courses, many of which felt they had been handed a raw deal under the terms of the original contract, may also escape the brunt of the impact from renegotiation.

Story 2

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/...o.uk&page=top12

What has and what could happen at attheraces



WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

Attheraces' original business plan envisaged that, in its second year, gross revenue from bets fed into the Tote's pools would total £84m through the internet, plus almost £17m via interactive television betting, making a grand total of more than £100m. That has proved overly optimistic.

Attheraces' agreement with the 49 racecourses who signed the £307 million deal in 2001 stipulated that if the Tote's gross profit margin on all its business fell below 20 per cent over a three-month period the broadcaster could give 90-day notice to terminate the contract. The Tote was not party to this confidential clause.

The Tote's decision last year to cut deductions on win and place betting forced margins below the 20 per cent mark and Attheraces gave notice in October. That notice period ends next week after which Attheraces has another 30 days to close the contract if that is what they decide to do.

The Office of Fair Trading's has decided to put itsruling over the competition element of the Attheraces-RCA contract on ice until April 1.


WHAT COULD HAPPEN NOW?

Viewers of racing on Attheraces, BBC and Channel 4 should notice no apparent difference.

If Attheraces chooses to renegotiate the deal it could result in a drastic fall in income for the 49 racecourses who signed the original deal with a knock-on effect for prize-money and racecourse improvements. The shortfall could reach £120m.

The two sides disagree as to whether Attheraces are entitled to a rebate on the huge payments already made. Should racecourses have to pay it would cause a massive strain on their finances.

Individual courses or racecourse groups could break away to negotiate their own media rights, with major courses such as Ascot and Aintree in a more powerful position than medium and smaller tracks. The OFT's objection to collective selling of rights makes such breakaways likely.

However, the planned resurrection of the Racing Channel may provide racecourses with an alternative buyer of their media rights.

Story 3

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/...o.uk&page=top11

Racing Channel express interest in attheraces tracks


by Bruce Jackson



THE new-look Racing Channel, still tied up in contractual paperwork, on Thursday expressed interest in entering talks with the 49 racecourses facing up to renegotiating with Attheraces after the broadcaster pulled the plug on their contract.

The reborn channel already claims to have the ten GG Media tracks, Irish and American racing signed up for the relaunch of the Sky-screened service, possibly next month.

The shock news of Attheraces possible termination of the ten-year contract with the 49 racecourses next month led David Craven, consultant to the new Channel, to issue an invitation to the courses.

"It is of great interest to us," said Craven on Thursday, "that the contract for the rights with the 49 tracks may be unwrapped. It is not good for the industry and we would like to talk to the tracks if they thought there is a viablity of coming across to us.

"We will have a viable channel with the flag on the mast of Irish racing at the moment and the ten GG Media tracks plus eight to tenhours of American racing through TVG guaranteed each night. If there is other UK products becoming available we would be very interested."

There is still no firm date for a relaunch although "preliminary agreements are in place," according to Craven, ex chief executive of 24dogs, who along with former BHB director of racing and Coral Eurobet MD Trevor Beaumont is leading consultant in reforming the Channel.

Craven added: "We have institutional backers who are comfortable investing in this area through the City."

As to a possible start date, Craven said: "It would be ambitious to be around the target date of late February or mid-March. It would be a tremendous achievement to meet that."

mike2084

Attheraces to close
17:52 GMT, Monday 22nd March 2004 -- by Darren Shelley
Attheraces is set to cease transmissions at the end of the day's horse racing on March 29th if attempts to save it are unsuccessful.

The channel - which launched in May 2002 as a joint venture between Channel 4, BSkyB and Arena Leisure - aimed to bring racing to a larger audience of eager viewers and earn a fortune from interactive gambling but revenue generated so far has been less than anticipated.

Out of the £307m ten-year rights deal, only £100m has been paid to the 49 racetracks involved in the agreement to date. Attheraces had attempted to defer further payments for three years but have so far been rejected by the British Horseracing Board.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds13982.html

Racecourses have two options as deadline looms


by Howard Wright



THE 49 racecourses tied into what should have been a ten-year media rights deal with Attheraces are facing two main options as they enter the last eight full days left to negotiate the contract out of oblivion.

They can let the deal slip into history after the last race in seven days' time, and be left to tackle the prospect of having to pay £50 million-plus in rebates to Attheraces. Details of how, when and even whether these will have to paid remain scanty, even among those closest to the deals, butthe prospect is apparently very evident.

Or, between them, they can make another deal, taking a "holiday" in guaranteed payments, which would ensure continuity of mass exposure on a dedicated racing channel.

The urgency of the matter is beginning to hit home, among racecourses and Attheraces staff and executives alike, and various meetings - all carried out beneath a cloak of confidentiality - are scheduled for the next few days.

Since track managements can no longer negotiate centrally through the Racecourse Association, because of Office of Fair Trading implications, the emergence of five groupings, all dealing in supposed secrecy with Attheraces, has added to the confusion on where the parties stand.

Splitting off contracts for terrestrialtelevision coverage through Channel 4 - whose exit as a consortium partner in Attheraces will be confirmed shortly leaving BSkyB and Arena Leisure to carry on - and the BBC has further complicated the negotiations.

It is understood to have led Racecourse Holdings Trust, which holds a major key to the negotiations through its many high-profile fixtures, to examine the possibility of a racing channel run by British racing, while offering the bookmakers a deal that would include both terrestrial television and betting-shop pictures, but not separately.

Also in the mix have come important side issues thrown up by SIS, which has a pictures contract with the other ten tracks through GG-Media, RaceTech, the RCA-owned company that provides pictures for Attheraces, and the BHB, which governs associated data licensing matters.

Finally, the betting industry, both nationally and internationally, has more than a passing interest in affairs. Overseas coverage of British racing to bookmakers in the Caribbean and elsewhere, which is operated by SIS under the Attheraces contract, will cease next Monday unless a new deal is done.

Ironically, this will mean that UK credit companies that do not own betting shops - such as Betfair, Bet Direct, Sportingbet, Sunderlands and Ukbetting - will also lose direct in-office access to pictures, since their arrangement comes under the same deal.

Press reports that a new channel, produced by SIS, will definitely come into operation are, as yet, no more than supposition, though it is understood that SIS has been asked by BSkyB to pick up the Winning Post programme from April 15.

However, should a slimmed-down "son of Attheraces" be the outcome, there would be a period when the channel is "dark" probably lasting around two months.

That, though, will depend on how the racecourse groupings react to this week's urgency - and the spectre of that £50m bill having to be paid between them.


http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/?MIval=rp_std_page&psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=industry5

DMC

Huge news this, I was following this on the sidelines of Cheltenham in the papers.

Plain and simple, interactive TV for betting is slow and cumbersome, compared with online.

One major problem I see is, what on earth is going to happen to Channel 4's coverage (talk is that they will walk away completely from racing and cricket at the first opportunity) Cheltenham racecourse apparently have already been talking to the BBC for next years event.

Interesting few days ahead.

donhughberto

Racing will die esp internet betting, its been three years since i was a regualr bookies person, all internet bets and watch them on attheraces, very sad news!

Mossy Monk

could it be possible that attheraces are playing hardball?

DMC

By the looks of it, the racecourses are saying "Fine, well, goodbye then. We'll set up our own channel in a few months". There seems no effort (certainly on Channel 4's part) to resolve this.

Mossy Monk

Originally posted by DMC
By the looks of it, the racecourses are saying "Fine, well, goodbye then. We'll set up our own channel in a few months". There seems no effort (certainly on Channel 4's part) to resolve this.

oh well, that channel lasted really long. some people will be annoyed if a premium service replaces it but what can one do besides watching everything in the bookies

DMC

Oh agreed. I dont want it to go back to the days when The Racing Channel was a subscription only channel. At least attheraces was part of a standard Sky subscription package.

donhughberto

Originally posted by Mossy Monk
oh well, that channel lasted really long. some people will be annoyed if a premium service replaces it but what can one do besides watching everything in the bookies

I just wouldnt like the bookies after the comfort of home, tea, biscuits and racing lol

mike2084

More stories on the fallout from the ATR fiasco, one story about about the possible launch of The Horseracing Channel, and another story mentions a possible re-launch date of May 16 for The Racing Channel.

The Horseracing Channel could be on air soon


by Jon Lees and David Ashforth



LEADING racecourses on Thursday disclosed well-advanced plans to produce their own racing channel in the event of Attheraces going off air.

The managements at Newbury and Doncaster revealed they were among a group of leading independent tracks that have put together "contingency plans" to ensure continued television coverage of the sport.

Officials said daily coverage was ready to be revived "within weeks" if the racecourses could not reach an agreement with Attheraces that would maintain the present service on Channel 418.

The new station, named the Horseracing Channel, would aim to provide "comprehensive" coverage of the sport but would initially be a paid for "no frills" service and one based on "sound" finances. Pictures could be suppliedby the RCA-owned Racetech.

The announcement was issued 24 hours after Attheraces forecast that it would go off air from next Tuesday because a new deal is unlikely to be reached before its deadline terminating the previous contract with the racecourses.

A day earlier Richard Johnston, managing director of Racecourse Holdings Trust, had dismissed a report that racecourses would use Racetech to provide pictures for their own channel as "pure speculation".

Yet it is understood a large number of the 49 racecourses that signed up to the original Attheraces deal have given their support to the new channel.

On Thursday Newbury's managing director Mark Kershaw said: "If Attheraces does not manage to reach new agreements with the racecourses and the BHB, racing has to be ready for life after Attheraces," he said.

"Our priority is to ensure that racing fans are able to turn on their television sets and watch a wide selection of racing from courses across Britain. If this cannot be delivered through Attheraces, racing needs a credible alternative broadcast proposition and one that will allow the sport to keep control of its product and its future."

John Sanderson, chief executive of Doncaster racecourse, said: "The development of the Horseracing Channel is a sensible and logical step for racecourses to take, following the decision by Attheraces to stop broadcasting on Monday March 29. We are very confident that the new channel will be successful."

The Horseracing Channel will be subscription based. Interactive betting features, a key plank of the previous deal, will be added "if they are self-funding".

Andrew Brown, the project director said: "It is very much a contingency plan. The channel would go out on Sky and we are also talkingto cable companies.

"We are looking for it to be as inclusive as possible. We have had a positive reaction from racecourses although the ten GG Media courses are probably not available and it is difficult to speak to Arena about it at the moment, because of their involvement with Attheraces.

"We have a cautious business plan and are trying to create something for racing that is not going to cost an arm and a leg. We are trying to make the economics such that there is no chance of anything other than a rosy future for it.

"As a subscription channel, there is a trade off. Not as many people will watch the channel but we are not reliant on income streams, such as interactive betting, that may or may not be profitable. Once it is up and running, it will be for the management team to decide if there is an opportunity to change the business model.

"There is a lot to be done. We are hopeful of being able to launch fairly shortly."

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/?MIval=rp_std_page&psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=latest7

Tuesday March 30 - a dark day for TV coverage


by Jon Lees



TUESDAY March 30 is set to become a ‘dark day’ for British racing in more ways than one after Attheraces on Wednesday forecast that its dedicated racing TV channel would go off air after nearly two years of daily coverage.

Although urgent discussions continued on Wednesday night to prevent a damaging blackout with the screen going ‘dark’, an Attheraces statement said there was “little chance” of agreement being reached with racecourses before midnight on Monday - when the original £307 million deal prematurely ends.

The only action available to viewers of Channel 418 on the Sky platform from Tuesday will be evening coverage of American racing, but in the daytime screens will go blank for an indefinite period.

The only places to view the racing action from Tuesday's scheduled meetings at Folkestone, Southwell and Sedgefield will be to go to the tracks or a betting shop.

In a statement issued to "explain its plans for the immediate future", Attheraces said that although discussions were ongoing "Attheraces believes there is little chance" of a successful outcome before Monday’s deadline.

It continued: “Although negotiations with the 49 tracks continue, without new contracts in place on March 30, Attheraces will cease the broadcast of live UK horseracing.”

Negotiations are ongoing with a number of racecourse groupings but there was little clue on Wednesday as to whether a deal could be put in place or how long the sport would be deprived of its shop window.

With talks likely to stretch into the weekend and beyond Ian Hogg, managing director of Attheraces, said his channel was "the only viable option".

Hogg added: "We have been working hard to ensure that the channel does not go off air but, as it stands, we will have no choice but to shut down the broadcast of the UK racing product.

“The Attheraces channel has been of considerable benefit to the racing industry in this country and over 850,000 people watched our coverage of the Cheltenham week. Attheraces remains the industry's only viable option looking forwards.”

Any blackout of racing pictures will have damaging consequences, not least among the betting industry for whom an increasing amount of business is derived from armchair punters who bet from home, yet Attheraces pledged to continue to operate its betting arm, Betattheraces, even without pictures.

Overseas clients are also set to miss out though Attheraces has approached the 49 courses wrapped up in the original deal requesting a one-month contract relating to overseas rights.

SIS could yet emerge as a future service provider but operations director Terry Ellis stressed the urgency of the situation, particularly in relation to the overseas market which it supplies under the ATR contract.

"People are talking to us," Ellis said, "but the time has come for people to be making decisions if they don't want to go off air.

"Unless something is done pretty quickly UK racing will lose its shop window, much to the delight of the French who are aggressively marketing themselves to known customers."

Ellis added: "In terms of numbers the overseas market is a very significant part of our business and its value to UK racing and breeding can't be underestimated.

"The direct-to-home market is recoverable but it would be an absolute tragedy if we lose the overseas markets."

Suggestions that SIS may play a role in a new 'Sky Racing' channel launching on May 16 were not confirmed.

Commenting on the situation, BHB chairman Martin Broughton, whose appointment was announced on Wednesday, said: "I think it's very disappointing. Attheraces promised a lot and it's a pity to see it go off the air and fail to deliver.

“I would have like to have thought that between the negotiating parties they could have at least extended the negotiating period until some solution comes out the other side.

“It's a good example of the problems that following the OFT's requirements lead to. I think Attheraces as an entity found it a great deal easier negotiating with one party, but trying to negotiate with five parties they've found extremely difficult, so this is a case that being in greater competition doesn't necessarily work within the consumer's interest, it's hard to see that's progress."

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/?MIval=rp_std_page&psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=top16

mike2084

20 tracks set to sign up for The Horse Racing Channel


by Howard Wright



TWENTY racecourses, including most of the top tracks, have signed, or have all but signed, to form The Horse Racing Channel, a new, subscription, digital satellite and cable television service that the promoters are promising will offer "the best of British racing" on a daily basis.

Goodwood general manager Rod Fabricius, who has been a prime mover in the project, along with Mark Kershaw and Sarah Horden of Newbury and project director Andrew Brown, revealed the numbers on Thursday.

Pledging "This will happen, and soon," Fabricius also said that the group, which has been in action for little more than six weeks, had received strong indications of support from several other courses, as well as from various sectors of the racing industry.

Racecourse Holdings Trust managing director Richard Johnston confirmed on Thursday that though the Jockey Club-owned group had not yet put pen to paper, it was "still the intention to do so".

RHT's 13 courses, which include such as Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom, Newmarket and Sandown, would be added to the big independent tracks that have driven the project and are already signed up - Ayr, Chester (which brings along Bangor), Doncaster, Goodwood, Newbury and York.

Ascot, which has been involved in the project from the start, is still carrying out a detailed assessment of the THRC business plan, which is based on a non-interactive channel that would feature on the Sky satellite platform, as well as Telewest and ntl cable networks.

The failure of the Attheraces prompted the major courses to explore an alternative that retained control and management of their media rights, and the service will be launched as a subscription channel, charging a maximum of £20 a month.

Fabricius said: "This may at first seem abarrier, but it's no more than a couple of bottles of reasonable wine, and it does guarantee us an important revenue stream.

"We wouldn't rule out charging nothing later, but this is not a business plan constructed on whims, hope and expectations."

Beyond the major independent and RHT tracks, THRC has drawn up a projected schedule that covers the Northern Racing group, the Yorkshire tracks, the Scottish courses and a handful of small independent operators, whose executives are all carrying out due diligence of the business model.

Fabricius said: "There will be no frills, but that will not detract from the fact that in an eight-hour window we will be providing a quality product that could be up and running by Derby day."


http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/?MIval=rp_std_page&psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=latest18

donhughberto

£20 for under half of yearly racing as there is over 50 tracks, i won't be signing up for this, might pay for all tracks as i like a punt!

byte

If the subscription is going to be around £20, you could probably expect to pay €30 in RoI for the service.

Seems a bit steep to me. It didnt' work for The Racing Channel.

mike2084

From Racing Post

THRC set to launch next week


by Jon Lees



LIVE daily coverage of horseracing will return to screens next week with The Horse Racing Channel believed to be within days of launching.

New Attheraces also began the countdown to its launch by declaring it would be ready to go on air in June but, though neither side was able to issue a launch date, an announcement from THRC was said to be "imminent" with project director Andrew Brown adding "I wouldn't rule out next week."

THRC, which comprises 27 racecourses and most of the major independent tracks, was expected to reveal a start date on Thursday but, although none was forthcoming, it is believed to be very close to a launch provided there are no last-minute hitches.

Next week's race programme features York's first meetings of the year, the two day Lockinge fixture at Newbury, with Goodwood set to open the following week. As each host track is a prominent member of THRC, any one of those meetings would be an ideal showcase for the launch of a new venture.

However despite five hours of talks in London on Tuesday, members of THRC are not quite ready to disclose an exact timetable.

Goodwood general manager Rod Fabricius said: "It's going to be sooner rather than later. It's always been our determination to get a service back on air at the earliest possible time.

"We haven't referred to a launch date for very good reasons. We don't want to mislead the public and until we have a definite date that we can announce, we won't announce a date.

"I had been hoping that we would be able make clear a timescale for the launch when we met earlier this week but obviously there are extensive contractual arrangements that have to be put in place and those processes are being worked through.

"We do feel that we are now drawing to a positionwhere we can actually plan that launch. I suppose Goodwood would be a fitting place for it to return but I have to say that we probably would be even more delighted if we can improve on that date.

"Tuesday's meeting [in which all bar Chester, where there was racing, participated] showed the level of enthusiasm and determination that eto work to make this succeed is very reassuring. It should give great comfort to the industry that racecourses are coming together to make a success of this venture."

Confirming its position New Attheraces said in a statement that its service would be accessible to more than seven million Sky subscribers and a further two million with cable in the UK and Ireland and free to 98 per cent of Sky digital viewers.

With 25 UK courses on board it predicted that the racing calendar would enable broadcast of at least two live UK meetings per day plus live racing from South Africa and the USA.

Ascot's involvement would suggest that the channel must be aiming to launch by June 15, the start of the Royal Meeting, but no date is being made public yet.

Matthew Imi said: "We are working to a specific date but we will confirm that in time. The point of the statement is to clarify how well organised an outfit we are. We have ticked all the boxes necessary to launch the channel."


http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/...k&page=latest24

Better watch out for a test then.

Skyuser

Apparently there is no channels launching until July or August cause Sky are doing something...

mike2084

Now according to the Racing Post this channel will not be a stand alone subscription channel, it has now decided to launch on the family pack.

DMC

I read in the Observer today that one of THRC's backers, Setanta, pulled out last week, which could delay that channel until next year. In the meantime, Doncaster, a leading supporter of THRC, is planning to join Northern Racing, which is committed to Attheraces version 2.

Michael, I'm going to combine all the threads about the racing channels into one, just to follow how the story has progressed over time.

mike2084

Originally posted by DMC


Michael, I'm going to combine all the threads about the racing channels into one, just to follow how the story has progressed over time.

I take it you've all spotted my strong interest in the sport:D

Here's the latest Racing Post story for those who are interested,

The Horse Racing Channel will be free-to-air

by Nick Grant, PA Sport

ARMCHAIR punters received a welcome boost on Sunday when it was confirmed that The Horse Racing Channel intends to launch as a free-to-air service.

A spokesman also said in a statement that the channel, which originally planned to be subscription-based from the outset at around £20 per month, would be on air "within the next couple of weeks".

It will go head-to-head with the revamped At The Races, which will also be free-to-air and intends to launch in June.

"The good news is that the early launch will feature a free-to-view service, ensuring that all those who have been denied a regular picture service will be able to enjoy the best racing from the best tracks for free," the statement said.

"Good progress continues to be made for launching the channel as soon as possible, delivering a great result for punters, bookmakers and everyone in the industry.

"The precise launch date can be expected within the next couple of weeks. This will be a best-of-breed channel that the entireracing industry can have confidence in."

Racing has been off the screens for satellite and digital viewers since Attheraces went dark on March 29 following the collapse of its £307million media rights agreement.

The 27 tracks already signed to THRCinclude those owned by Racecourse Holdings Trust - Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom, Haydock, Kempton, Newmarket, Sandown and six others - and account for 48 per cent of the fixture list.

At The Races currently has 25 courses, controlling 50 per cent of thefixture list. That would enable it to broadcast an average of two live UK meetings per day, plus live racing from South Africa and the USA.

Six tracks - Cartmel, Hamilton, Newton Abbot, Plumpton, Ripon and Salisbury - have yet to commit to either THRC or At The Races.

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/?MIval=rp_std_page&psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=latest9

As a footnote this weekends Irish Field says that both channels are in negotiations with Horse racing Ireland for Irish pictures.

More on this story is also on: http://skydigital.mediabullet.co.uk/

Dec4

It will be interesting to see how HRI and AIR play this one. One of the major causes behind the cessation of Irish coverage in December 2002 by the now defunct Racing Channel was that Irish racecourses were unhappy with free to air pictures. As far as I recall Irish pictures would only be made available on a "subscription-based" service. What happens now ?

Mossy Monk

why would the irish courses be against FTA if they were paid for the rights?

Dec4

Racecourses get €13.5K per meeting from SIS for distribution of pictures to betting shops. That's about €3.5million per annum. How much do you think either consortium would be willing to offer for a "run-of-the-mill" Irish meeting at say Sligo or Clonmel ?? Irish racing has a very limited appeal to a UK audience.
There is also a strong view that Irish Racing wouldn't be just "cherry-picked" by a UK Racing channel.

Dec4

I see rep for THRC stated this afternoon that they would not have the finances to bid for either Irish or French racing at present. Don't think things look so good for an early return of Irish racing.

mike2084

Originally posted by Dec4
Racecourses get €13.5K per meeting from SIS for distribution of pictures to betting shops.

Actually it's been €17,500 per meeting since the 1st of January.

This was for a return of the 'old' Racing Channel as a sub service

mike2084

From todays Sunday Times


BSkyB races to get Irish horses on satellite
Ronan McGreevy

A CONSORTIUM led by BSkyB is the hot favourite to win the race to put Irish horseracing back on satellite television across Britain and Ireland.
Executives from the At the Races channel will meet Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) officials tomorrow with a proposal to restore Irish racing for satellite viewers as early as next month.

At the Races, a joint venture between BSkyB, the satellite television station in which News International, owner of The Sunday Times, has a 35.4% stake, and Arena Leisure, the British racecourses owner, succeeds the Attheraces channel, which eventually collapsed in March after interactive betting revenues failed to meet expectations. It had withdrawn Irish racing from its schedule in December 2002.

HRI has abandoned plans to launch its own satellite channel dedicated to Irish racing and the Horse Racing Channel confirmed it is not interested in bidding for Irish rights at this stage.

HRI has agreements with RTE for terrestrial coverage in Ireland and with Satellite Information Services (SIS), a subscription channel that pays €14,000 per meeting for rights to relay coverage into bookmakers’ shops across Britain and Ireland. SIS also pays €2,500 a meeting for rights to broadcast to terrestrial television in Britain but this is not being used at present. The company will be party to any deal between HRI and At the Races.

Brian Kavanagh, HRI’s chief executive, said the organisation’s priority would be to ensure the widest possible coverage for the 305 race meetings run in the republic every year.

“One of the concerns we had was the tendency to cherry-pick some races. There is no point in being able to see your horse running one day and not the next. Our fundamental concern will be about the consistency and levels of coverage,” he said.

Kavanagh would not divulge the asking price for Irish racing rights but acknowledged it would not come anywhere near the previous deal, valued at €390m over 10 years.

“There has been a perception that sports rights held a higher value than they deserved,” Kavanagh said.

At the Races is likely to offer Irish racing a similar deal to the 25 racecourses in Britain that have signed up to the new channel.

Matthew Imi, the joint venture’s chief executive, said racecourses would receive payments based on the success of the new channel.

“As far as UK courses are concerned, we have made them a media rights proposal which involves the courses sharing in a percentage of revenues which are derived from exploiting those rights,” he said.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1111232,00.html

Aquos76

Michael, did you see the piece in the racing post during the early part of last week. It was about the two channels you were on about, but it also stated that the NEW AT THE RACES channel would be available to customers on Sky Digital on the Family Pack. It also stated that the backing of the racing channel would more than likely be isports. The crowd behind the virtual racing channel which is already on the Sky all be it a free to air channel.

mike2084

No, I didn't see that, I don't care as long as someone takes Irish Racing and gives it proper coverage

mike2084

At The Races announces launch date


by Anita Chambers, PA Sport



AT THE RACES announced on Friday that it will start live coverage of British racing on Friday, June 11 in time to show Royal Ascot the following week.

ATR also confirmed they have agreed a deal for the rights to show racing from Newton Abbot, taking their total number of tracks to 26.

Meanwhile, their rival station The Horse Racing Channel has secured a contract with a South African company and the Tote for international distribution of their pictures when their channel launches.

ATR, which willhave SIS as its broadcast production partner, will kick off with meetings at Chepstow and Southwell before Royal Ascot starts the following Tuesday.

Matthew Imi, chief executive of At The Races, said: "We have a firm launch date. On Friday, June 11 quality live UK racing will return on a channel dedicated to the sport, available at no extra cost, in over nine million homes.

"The countdown continues on schedule and exactly as we have outlined, consistently, to the racing industry. We are working with our racecourse and production partners and will deliver on our promises.

"We are delighted to be starting our coverage with meetings from Chepstow and Southwell and look forward to providing an average of two meetings per day in the summer months ahead.

"This is very good news for all the racecourses working with us and we are particularly pleased for all the viewers and punters who have been so supportive of At The Races over the years - they will soon have live racing back on their screens."

ATR added the 26th track to their portfolio today after Newton Abbot decided to sign up with them rather than THRC.

Pat Masterson, managing director of Newton Abbot, said: "After many weeks of deliberation the board of directors at Newton Abbot racecourse firmly believes that At The Races is the best way forward and very much looks forward to a successful partnership."

Imi added: "We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Newton Abbot and very much look forward to their first televised meeting on the channel on Tuesday, June 15.

"For National Hunt racing enthusiasts this is particularly good news as Newton Abbot offers great jump racing all year round."

Imi is also confident of adding even more courses to their roster before the launch date.

He explained: "We remain in a serious and advanced state of negotiation with a number of other courses and are confident that we will be going to air on June 11 with more than the current number of racecourse partners."

SIS have been contracted to produce live race coverage, live programming from the tracks and all studio programming for At The Races.

The channel's emphasis will be on coverage from the courses with production standards and editorial control resting with At The Races.

David Holdgate, chief executive of SIS, said of the deal: "We are delighted to be involved with At The Races in the production of the new service.

"Our preparations are already well in hand for the launch on June 11 and it's good to be able to look forward to bringing back a regular live racing service, with very high standards, for millions of homes."

Although THRC have not set a launch date yet, they have agreed a deal to distribute their pictures internationally in partnership with Phumelela Gold Enterprises of South Africa (PGE), and the Horserace Totalisator Board (Tote).

THRC have 28 tracks signed onto their channel at present including those owned by the Racecourse Holdings Trust which encompasses Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom and Sandown.

The three-year deal THRC have signed will give them exclusive access to the best of South African racing, including the Durban July Handicap and the Johannesburg Summer Cup to add to their programme of British racing.

The deal guarantees a minimum payment to THRC, plus the prospect of additional revenues, as PGE exploits the full potential of THRC pictures in new and existing international markets.

PGE has achieved outstanding success in taking South African racing to international markets and has pioneered international co-mingling of betting pools.

The agreement comes into immediate effect and cements the long term future of THRC, which will begin broadcasting within the next few weeks.

Co-mingling between UK and South African pool betting will be promoted under the terms of the deal.

Andrew Brown, project director of THRC, said: "This agreement with PGE and the Tote is the best deal for racing and gives an unstoppable momentum to THRC.

"We now have a substantial and guaranteed long term revenue stream and high quality racing from overseas to broadcast alongside the best of British racing."

Peter Jones, chairman of the Tote, said: "It makes good sense for the Tote to link up with THRC. This deal will bring income to British racing, take it to new markets and open up new business opportunities for the Tote."

There are four courses yet to commit to a channel. They are: Cartmel, Hamilton Park, Plumpton and Ripon.

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/?MIval=rp_std_page&psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=latest21

In other news.... Bookie William Hill is considering launching its own channel....

Hills to have their own satellite TV outlet

by Howard Wright

WILLIAM HILL is to become Britain’s first major betting brand to have its own satellite television outlet, in a venture that will launch later this year on the Sky channel 425 and rumoured to be the favoured slot for The Horse Racing Channel.

While THRC promoters remain tightlipped about where and when they will start broadcasting live racing from the major tracks, Hills's chief executive David Harding said he knew nothing about THRC’s aspirations - and did not want to know.

He added: “I haven’t asked about THRC, and I don’t want to get involved, because it’s up to them what they do with channel 425 before we launch our dedicated, branded service.

“All I do know is that we began negotiations back at Christmas, well before anyone had heard of THRC, and our relationship is long term and involves the permanent transfer to us of the branding and content of the site.”

Hills have signed an agreement with the Digital Interactive Television Group, which operates a number of interactive services, including the bingo-based Avago channel on Sky 181, and iSports TV, whose branding and content will now be the responsibility of Britain’s second-biggest bookmaker.

The iSports TV channel on Sky 425 currently offers Argentinian football, numbers games, gerbil roulette, virtual reality horseracing from such as Harrogate Park in the UK and Happy Hills in Hong Kong, and live US greyhound racing, all with a red-button facility operated by DITG’s subsidiary The Gaming Channel.

Harding revealed that Hills, who are spending a little under £2 million on the project, will concentrate on a mix of sports betting editorial and content with numbers games, and possibly live sports broadcasts, although not horseracing.

For legal reasons, the service will not be available in Hills’s 1,600 betting shops, although it will be marketed through these outlets.

Dismissing the idea that he would be competing for important sports events, Harding said: “First and foremost we are a betting company. We’re not interested in reselling content or advertising, which is the only way you make money out of sports broadcasts, but I’m sure that from time to time events will present themselves that no-one else has bid for.

“We’re not a TV company, and have no intention of becoming one. This is a cost-effective entry to interactive television. It’s been around for a while and some people say it’s too clunky, but it will get better. I feel it’s at the same stage as the internet was five years ago.

“I’ve been looking to get into digital television for some time. The lesson of the internet is that the big brands win, and this way, we don’t have to build a site.”

Harding added: “This project is low cost, low risk. We’re not selling the farm. It’s an example of the legacy that John Brown [former chairman] left us.”

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/?MIval=rp_std_page&psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=top27

sceptre

Just a quick note from a reader, Michael.

I've no interest in horse racing. The last time I put a bet on a horse was when Seagram won the National. I went to Limerick races just after Christmas and was bored off my proverbial tits compared to the occasional good trip to the dog track I've had (must be ADD) and couldn't even figure out when the race had actually started.

However, I'm finding your regular updates very interesting so thanks!:D

mike2084

Originally posted by sceptre
Just a quick note from a reader, Michael.

I've no interest in horse racing. The last time I put a bet on a horse was when Seagram won the National. I went to Limerick races just after Christmas and was bored off my proverbial tits compared to the occasional good trip to the dog track I've had (must be ADD) and couldn't even figure out when the race had actually started.

However, I'm finding your regular updates very interesting so thanks!:D

Thank You for your kind words. We may convert you yet:D

PK - the king

Why is attheraces available as part of the basic entertainment on sky & chorus but is a pay extra channel on ntl digital?

mike2084

It is rumoured that The Horse Racing Channel could launch this Saturday and share with iSports TV on 425. I stress, this is only a rumour as there has been no official confirmation.

http://www.theracingforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/ikonboard/topic.cgi?forum=15&topic=5456&start=0

Aquos76

Here you go Michael

NEW RACING CHANNEL TO START ON SATURDAY

The Horse Racing Channel will start broadcasting on Saturday - 13 days sooner than its rival At The Races.

THRC, under the new brand name of 'Racing UK', will begin coverage at 1pm and Rishi Persad will present the first broadcast live from Kempton Park.

The programme will also include racing from Doncaster, Musselburgh and Cartmel.

Major fixtures to be covered by the channel include next week's Vodafone Derby meeting, the July meeting from Newmarket, Glorious Goodwood, York's Ebor Festival and the St Leger Festival from Doncaster.

Racing UK is designed to provide viewers with British racing all year around.

The channel will broadcast about 4,000 races from UK courses each year and be on air for between five and eight hours on race days.

Racing UK will be broadcast on iSports TV, operated by the Digital Interactive Television Group (DITG), on Sky digital platform channel 425, and its programmes will be produced by Highflyer.

Cartmel is the latest course to give its support to Racing UK, which is owned and managed by 30 racecourses, including Aintree, Ayr, Cheltenham, Doncaster, Goodwood, Newmarket and Sandown.

Project director Andrew Brown said: "Racing UK will bring the best of British racing to TV viewers in the UK and beyond.

"We are looking forward to going live on Saturday and to establishing Racing UK as the broadcast home of British horseracing."

Damian Cope, managing director of DITG Gaming, added: "DITG is delighted to help The Horse Racing Channel start broadcasting its own premium product.

"We know that everyone, especially the punters, will be very pleased to have UK horseracing back on TV after a two-month absence."

At The Races, the satellite television successor to attheraces, which went off the air on March 29, will launch its live racing service from Southwell on June 11.

Source: Betfair

denis1501

Not so according to today's Racing post..........wonder who's right????

THE race to sign up presenters and pundits for Britain’s two satellite racing channels has begun in earnest, and At The Races beat its rival The Horse Racing Channel to the first punch on Tuesday, by announcing that it had signed John McCririck, Alex Hammond and Zoey Bird.

However, persistent speculation that THRC would be the first to launch - this Saturday - was "categorically" denied.

McCririck and Bird worked for the defunct Attheraces channel, for which Hammond, who featured on the rival station The Racing Channel, was overlooked.

Hammond has since worked for Sky Sports, and has continued to present racing on The Winning Post, which is produced by SIS, provider of a similar service for ATR.

Further appointments, including Robert Cooper, to a unit that will be smaller than that used by production company Highflyer for Attheraces, are expected this week, as ATR works towards its promised June 11 launch date.


McCririck said: "I'm excited to have been asked to bring daily racing back to air and it had to be with At The Races. I'll be at Southwell on the opening day then Royal Ascot the following week."

ATR has also unveiled a new red, white and blue logo that will be used for live broadcasts and studio programmes, and within marketing activity, aimed at getting away from the image that lasted for less than two years.

THRC timings have not been announced, but Highflyer has been given the production job.

Former Attheraces channel editor Jim Ramsay, whose claim that 'old' ATR were misleading the courses over the station's future plans led to his being asked to take gardening leave, is leading the search for talent to appear on THRC.

He is understood to have approached such familiar Attheraces figures as Mike Cattermole, Lydia Hislop and Rishi Persad.

Both channels are expected to concentrate their service around racecourse presentation, with limited studio back-up.

Persistent rumours on Tuesday that THRC would launch with coverage of Kempton and Doncaster onSaturday were described as "premature" on Tuesday night by the channel's driving force, Rod Fabricius.

Fabricious was in consultation with lawyers in London on Tuesday and emerged from meetings to say: “I can confirm that no decision has yet been made regarding a launch date.”

regards
D.

robert muldoon

Thanks Miichael Walsh, for keeping us up to date on the racing situation,but I am more interested in when we will be able to see Irish Courses televised live on our T.V screens, can you keep us posted on this??

mike2084

Originally posted by robert muldoon
Thanks Miichael Walsh, for keeping us up to date on the racing situation,but I am more interested in when we will be able to see Irish Courses televised live on our T.V screens, can you keep us posted on this??

Sorry to disappoint, but a contact of mine tells me that no moves will be made on the Irish situation for six months if at all. I'm told they are delighted with Go Racing on TV3 (100,000 viewers a week) and there going to stick with it.

The UK Racing programme is in iSports' EPG listings from Saturday at 1pm so its definately coming.

mike2084

Here is a list of the courses that have signed up for Racing UK:

Aintree, Carlisle, Cheltenhan, Epsom, Haydock, Huntingdon, Kempton, Market Rasen, Newmarket, Nottingham, Sandown, Warwick, Wincanton , Bangor, Chester, Doncaster , Goodwood, Newbury, York, Ayr, Beverley, Pontefract, Thirsk, Catterick, Redcar, Musselburgh, Ludlow.

see http://www.isports.tv/

Dec4

Sorry to disappoint, but a contact of mine tells me that no moves will be made on the Irish situation for six months if at all.

Anyhow according to another source, Ballinrobe card is on The Winning Post tonight ( see info on Sky EPG ) so it looks like Irish Racing has joined ranks with ATR2 as of today.

robert muldoon

Originally posted by Dec4
Anyhow according to another source, Ballinrobe card is on The Winning Post tonight ( see info on Sky EPG ) so it looks like Irish Racing has joined ranks with ATR2 as of today.

Sorry but what Nr is this channel

DMC

One of the main Sky Sports channels. The Winning Post is a regular live programme, showing evening meetings on Sky Sports during the summer.

mike2084

Unfortunately no racing was screened from Ballinrobe last night, so this would appear to be an EPG error.

mike2084

Irish Racing could be back on our screens, according to yesterdays Irish Field, although this has had more false starts then the 1993 Grand National so don't expect it until you see it;)

Here is the article: (No website for Irish Field)

Irish Racing back on TV

NEXT Friday's meetings at Navan and Wexford could form part of the first days programming by Attheraces. It's understood that a deal between the SIS-backed fledgling channel and Horse Racing Ireland has been agreed in principal with the final details expected to be confirmed next week.

Attheraces will carry pictures from 26 British tracks and will be available to more than seven million homes in the UK and Ireland via Sky digital and carriage via cable will extend coverage to another two million homes.

SIS has been contracted to produce live race coverage, live programming from the tracks and all studio programming. Presenters will include John McCririck, Alex Hammond and Zoey Bird.

robert muldoon

Originally posted by Michael Walsh
Irish Racing could be back on our screens, according to yesterdays Irish Field, although this has had more false starts then the 1993 Grand National so don't expect it until you see it;)

Thanks Michael, I was hoping Leopardstown mighy have been on Sky sports this pm as I had a tip for a horse, - anyway keep us posted

mike2084

I still can't find that confirmation they were talking about, and Friday is getting close.

Dec4

ATR have committed to show "Irish racing within the next week" according to Matthew Imi this morning on "new" At The Races. Wouldn't hold my breath. I'd say ATR just want to cherrypick and the only meeting of UK interest would be Irish Derby in a fortnight. If it's not sorted soon it might not get sorted at all...

Dec4

Some good news.. see below

AT THE RACES TO SHOW IRISH MEETINGS
Irish racing is to be shown on the new At The Races channel from Sunday after the completion of a short-term deal.

At The Races, the restructured successor to the original attheraces channel, launched on Friday with British coverage from Southwell in the afternoon and Chepstow in the evening.

The BSkyB and Arena Leisure-owned broadcaster has the rights to 26 British tracks, while its rival, Racing UK, which started up late last month, has 30 and is owned by the racecourses.

In a statement issued on Friday, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) said they were "pleased to announce that Irish racing will be back on television screens this Sunday when the new At The Races channel will show coverage from the two fixtures at Cork and Roscommon."

The statement continued: "HRI and AIR have completed a short-term contract to make Irish racing available to At The Races for the next two weeks, pending finalisation of a longer-term agreement.

"The terms of such a deal, which will run to December 2008, have been agreed and the contract is currently being finalised with solicitors.

"As part of the deal, ATR will cover at least one fixture for each day that there is racing in Ireland (a minimum of 250 Irish meetings per year)."

Jerry Desmond, chairman of both the HRI media rights committee and AIR, said: "This deal fulfils HRI's commitment within its strategic plan to ensure the return of Irish racing on to an appropriate satellite channel.

"The AIR has enjoyed a long and positive relationship with SIS, who have held racecourses' direct-to-home broadcasting rights since the start of the year and who will be producing the Irish product for At The Races.

"Irish racing is delighted to be associated with an experienced broadcaster such as BSkyB, which will undoubtedly bring long-term promotional benefits to Irish racing."

mike2084

I can now confirm that Irish racing will be back with both Cork & Roscommon on Sunday. A starter two-week contract has been agreed with a four year contract to follow. ATR have to show at least 1 Irish meeting any day when Irish action takes place. This avoids the prospect of Irish meetings being cherry-picked. Details of the deal are available on At The Races Text and in the following Racing Post article.

ATR chief launches attack on rival

by Andrew Scutts

"FLAWED and will end in disaster". Matthew Imi, chief executive of At The Races, wasted no time in laying into rival broadcaster Racing UK on Friday, when the restructured At The Races made its return - but he also called for one dedicated racing channel.

Launch day was also a red-letter day for other reasons as it was revealed that live racing from Ireland will return on Sunday, with At The Races covering the action from Cork and Roscommon after signing a deal with Horse Racing Ireland and the Association of Irish Racecourses.

Imi, meanwhile, voiced his opinion on Racing UK, which has been broadcasting since May 29, and his desire that racecourses unite under one banner at Southwell, from where At The Races covered its first live British racing programme since the collapse of the old Attheraces on March 30.

Imi said: “I’m sure that one racing channel, covering all 59 courses, is where everyone wants to end up, including ourselves. We want to do all we can to popularise racing. We don't want to marginalise the sport.

“Although other factors were at work, Attheraces contributed to higher betting turnover, bigger racecourse attendances, and helped the Levy.

“Our new business plan is solid, it's clear that Sky are committed to racing, andwe take heart from that. We are not reliant on other courses joining us, and we're convinced that a subscription channel is the wrong way to go.

“It's very difficult to make a success of a subscription channel. We won't be asking our viewers to part with their money, a plan which underpins Racing UK, which is flawed and will end in disaster."

Imi also took a swipe at a newspaper report which denigrated the quality of racing available to At The Races. "We have 26 racecourses [out of 59] signed up so far, but already have over 50 per cent of the fixture list, and I'm disappointed with any remarks about a lack of quality," he said.

With Sandown and York on Racing UK on Friday afternoon, At The Races had to be content with six all-weather races from Southwell, followed by Chepstow's evening card, which was head-to-head with Goodwood on Racing UK.

At The Races will enjoy a bigger slice of the pie on Saturday, covering Bath in the afternoon, plus all three evening meetings in Britain - Leicester, Hexham and Lingfield.

Live coverage from Leicester and Hexham was guaranteed at the last minute, when GG-Media put pen to paper just before the 5pm deadline on Friday. GG-Media had been aligned to At The Races from the start, but did not sign up their ten courses until Friday.

Live coverage of Irish racing returns on Sunday after the finalising of a short-term contract on Friday, which makes Irish racing available to At The Races for the next two weeks, pending completion of a longer-term agreement which will run to December 2008.

On Friday, Mike Cattermole introduced the new-look At The Races - owned by Sky and Arena Leisure - and the day passed without any obvious glitches.

Robert Cooper, David Yates and Sean Boyce discussed the news and betting moves in the morning and early afternoon, while John McCririck and Alex Hammond were at Southwell previewing the live racing and conducting interviews. There was also a feature on trainer Mick Channon.

There is a distinctly Sky Sports-style feel to the new programme, from the blue background in the studio to the rolling information and betting bar at the bottom of our screens, which also reflects the influence of producers SIS.

“Sky were not as hands-on in the old Attheraces set-up but, unlike Channel 4, they didn't walk away at the end of March, and they are now absolutely hands-on,” said Imi.

"I thought we made a cracking start," he added. "I was really pleased with our first day. The programme looks good, the graphics are clean and it's a proper channel. With Ascot, Northern Racing, GG-Media and Irish racing, we have access to 1,000 fixtures a year."


http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/?MIval=rp_std_page&psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=latest32

channelsurfer

do racing uk plan to charge a monthly fee cos at the moment they are free to air and at the races are not free to air they are on the sky packs..

mike2084

Originally posted by channelsurfer
do racing uk plan to charge a monthly fee cos at the moment they are free to air and at the races are not free to air they are on the sky packs..

Racing UK plan to charge a sub of €30 per month in about 2 months time. ATR are committed to remaining on the family pack