ATR loses Ascot racing rights to Racing UK

MoscowFlyer

Another huge blow to ATR.

Racing UK (RUK), which broadcasts action from 33 of Britain's racecourses, will gain a hugely significant addition to its roster of tracks from June 2014 following a decision by Ascot, the country's premier venue, to join Racecourse Media Group, RUK's parent company. The move is a significant setback for At The Races, which is RUK's only competitor as a broadcaster of live TV coverage of day-to-day racing, and is left with a portfolio composed mainly of middle- and low-grade courses.

Ascot has been broadcast on At The Races since 2004, but its original decision to partner with the channel was seen as an odd one in many quarters, given that almost every other leading track, including Cheltenham, Aintree, Epsom, Newmarket, York and Goodwood, joined Racing UK, which is owned by the courses involved.

Ascot's switch to RUK will give the channel a near monopoly on the best races. The St Leger at Doncaster, which is owned by ARC (formed recently by the merger of Arena Leisure and Northern Racing), the only obvious omission.

Ascot's new deal will begin on 14 June 2014, just before the course's Royal meeting.

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Nulty

I saw it on the Morning Line yesterday. Gotta feel for ATR. They're left with very little top class Brititsh Racing.

MoscowFlyer

How are ATR funded? Like you say, they are left with very little in way of decent racing. Wonder if they will last much longer? They are going to end up relying on Irish racing alone.

hucklebuck

They will probably have to start charging. Think I will get RUK but it's a 12 month contract, couldn't be arsed with flat racing barring to watch one or two superstars.

Channel 4 won't be showing as much racing either.

Nulty

The article you linked to quotes an ATR rep as saying that this won't impact profits etc. Seems they have diversified sufficiently with Irish, US and Australian racing. Money isn't the issue for them it seems but prestige in their own country.