The Big Switch
With Irish tracks having joined Racing TV, so too have (from left) Kate Harrington, Kevin O’Ryan, Gary O’Brien, Ruby Walsh and Donn McClean
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emphasis on such busy days. There will be more studio-based delivery and less punditry, especially on Saturdays. Significantly, Racing TV, which calculates it will host 70% of live British and Irish racing and 90% of Group races, will introduce its own dedicated live stream on Racing TV Extra, accessible on website, mobile and TV apps, with every one of their 61 racecourses on either side of the Irish Sea having its own dedicated channel. FitzGerald said: “This is the start of an exciting new era for the channel. Rebranding to Racing TV reflects the even greater quality and choice available from both sides of the Irish Sea and also retains some of the Racing UK brand heritage, of which we are very proud. “We are building racing to be much more than just about Sky. When we set off at the start in 2004, Sky was effectively the only way to watch racing. That is not the case now. We have taken a much more multi-platform approach. It is more of a Netflix-style approach.” Sky Sports Racing has not taken the loss of Irish racing lying down and their deal with France Galop will go a long way towards filling the hole. It remains to be seen how they engage the interest of UK and Irish viewers, but there is no shortage of ideas on that front, and the channel will effectively become the home of international racing.
There is a minimum commitment for 250 race meetings a year to be shown from France, much of it with on-course presentation, and there is no shortage of quality, although much of it is concentrated on Sundays. Imi says: “We believe in French racing and it works well timings-wise. It’s about engaging audiences, and we will work very closely with colleagues at Equidia and with owners and trainers over there. There is a story to tell over there and I think we can do a good job.” He adds that it presents an “exciting opportunity”, especially when set alongside the 88 fixtures Sky Sports Racing will show exclusively from Hong Kong, the regular content from the States, including the American Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, and Australian simulcasts, including the Melbourne Cup. Underlining the significance of joining the fold at Sky Sports, Imi, who hinted that further media rights deals were imminent, pointed out: “International rights holders all understand the Sky Sports brand. They attach huge value to the audience we deliver and they buy into the cross promotion.” Coverage on Racing TV will start earlier and finish later. The Betting Lab will be replaced by the Friday Club, which will be free to air and will include live racing from Dundalk. There will be a daily Mark Your Card, plus evening highlights and replays.
Luck On Sunday is staying, and the channel will introduce a new programme on Saturdays known as The Full SP. The Friday Club, featuring Rishi Persad and weighing room wag Martin Dwyer, will presumably be in direct opposition to Get In, At The Races’ popular end of week wind-down (and wind-up!) show hosted by Luke Harvey and Jason Weaver, which will remain a key feature on Sky Sports Racing. Programming there, as now, will feature news bulletins on the hour from 9am, alongside a preview show and, when time allows, racing review programmes before racing too. Sky Sports Racing will also introduce a new racing round-up programme and borrow some Sky Sports ideas, including Monday Night Racing, hosted from the studio every week and always including live racing. The Sunday Forum will be rebranded as The Racing Debate and also rolled out on other days.
TALENT
There was never much doubt that Gary O’Brien would join Racing TV, or for that matter Kevin O’Ryan, for as O’Brien himself has said, “you have to go where the work is”. Both are hugely respected and popular within Irish racing circles and they join long-time Racing UK regulars Ruby Walsh and Donn McClean on
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