Racing TV
Racing TV is a British subscription-based pay television channel dedicated to broadcasting live horse racing events, along with related news, analysis, interviews, and replays.[1] It is owned and operated by the Racecourse Media Group (RMG), an organization fully owned by 37 British racecourses, including major venues such as Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs, Newmarket, Sandown Park, and York.[2] Launched on 29 May 2004 as Racing UK by an initial consortium of 30 leading UK racecourses seeking greater control over their media rights, the channel has grown to cover fixtures from 61 racecourses, encompassing 35 in Britain and all 26 in Ireland.[1][3] In January 2019, Racing UK rebranded to Racing TV to better reflect its expanded coverage of Irish racing, which began with a new broadcasting agreement effective from 1 January 2019, marking a significant milestone in its development as the premier dedicated horse racing channel in the UK and Ireland.[4][5] The channel broadcasts over 800 live race meetings annually, focusing on both Flat and National Hunt racing, and is available on platforms including Sky (channel 424), Virgin Media (channels 536 and 411), and various streaming apps for devices like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV.[1][2] Racing TV serves approximately 60,000 residential subscribers and over 10,000 pubs and clubs across the UK and Ireland, with additional free-to-air access for select major events reaching around 12 million homes.[1] All profits generated by the channel are returned to its racecourse shareholders through RMG, supporting the sport's infrastructure and development.[2] Beyond live racing, the channel offers on-demand replays, expert tips, racecards, betting guides, and original programming such as documentaries and syndicate ownership opportunities, enhancing engagement for enthusiasts.[6]History
Origins and Launch
Racing UK was formed in 2004 by a consortium of 30 leading British racecourses seeking to establish a dedicated subscription-based television channel for horse racing, managed by the Racecourse Media Group.[1][7] The initiative arose in the wake of the collapse of the previous dedicated racing channel, At The Races, earlier that year, creating an opportunity to provide comprehensive live coverage of UK racing that had been lacking on free-to-air platforms beyond Channel 4's limited terrestrial broadcasts.[8] The channel soft-launched on 29 May 2004 via Sky Digital, initially broadcasting on a temporary slot.[9] In July 2004, Racing UK announced a distribution partnership with Setanta Sports, which facilitated a more stable platform and enabled the channel's official full launch on 1 September 2004 as channel 432 on Sky Digital.[10][7] From inception, it operated on a subscription model priced at £20 per month, available exclusively on the Sky platform, with programming centered on live action from its 30 contracted UK racecourses to supplement international races during off periods.[11][9] Early operations faced distribution hurdles, notably the 2009 collapse of Setanta Sports, which had bundled Racing UK into its sports package since 2006 and prompted a temporary free-to-air shift on Sky before reverting to independent subscription status later that year.[11][12] This transition stabilized the channel as a standalone entity, allowing it to focus solely on racing content without broader sports dependencies.[13]Rebranding and Expansion
In December 2018, Racecourse Media Group announced the rebranding of its subscription channel Racing UK to Racing TV, with the change implemented on air on 17 December to modernize the brand and enhance its appeal to a wider audience by better reflecting the forthcoming integration of British and Irish racing content.[14][15] The rebrand aimed to position the channel as a comprehensive destination for horse racing enthusiasts, moving away from its UK-centric identity to emphasize cross-border coverage and improved marketing.[16] The rebranding coincided with a significant expansion through a five-year partnership with Horse Racing Ireland, effective 1 January 2019, which added live broadcasts from all 26 Irish racecourses previously covered by rival channel At The Races.[17][18] This deal increased Racing TV's total coverage to 61 racecourses, encompassing over 70% of all fixtures in Britain and Ireland and enabling near-comprehensive access to major events.[16] To support this growth, the channel introduced Racing TV Extra in early 2019, a streaming service providing dedicated live feeds from individual racecourses for multi-angle viewing, along with on-demand replays accessible via website, mobile apps, and TV platforms at no additional cost to subscribers.[14][19] By 2020, Racing TV had solidified its expansion with 34 British racecourse shareholders contributing to its ownership and content pool, while maintaining contracts with the full 61 tracks across the UK and Ireland.[20] This structure allowed the channel to broadcast nearly 90% of all Group and Graded races in Britain and Ireland, covering approximately 1,150 meetings annually and establishing it as the leading premium horse racing broadcaster.[21] A key precursor to this phase was the channel's upgrade to high-definition broadcasting in 2016, which improved production quality and viewer experience ahead of the rebrand.[22]Recent Developments
In late 2023, Racecourse Media Group (RMG), the owner of Racing TV, relocated its production facilities from Ealing Studios to the Ealing Broadcast Centre to improve operational efficiency and achieve cost savings through consolidated infrastructure.[23] This move supported the introduction of advanced virtual studio technology, enabling enhanced live coverage integration from multiple racecourses.[24] In 2024, Racing TV formed a partnership with RaceShare to launch exclusive fan ownership syndicates, allowing members to participate in racehorse ownership at no additional cost and boosting viewer engagement through shared experiences.[25] This initiative included the acquisition of horses such as Lir Speciale in its inaugural year, followed by The Lost Sock in 2025, a £50,000 breeze-up purchase trained by Roger Varian, which secured a victory at Catterick in August 2025.[26] The syndicates have provided members with direct involvement in racing, including stable visits and race-day access, fostering greater audience loyalty.[27] Racing TV has expanded its digital offerings, with enhanced streaming capabilities available to subscribers via its mobile app and website, supporting live and on-demand access for international viewers in permitted regions.[28] Integration with betting platforms is facilitated through embedded Timeform ratings and tips within the app, aiding real-time wagering during broadcasts.[29] As of 2025, no major ownership changes have occurred at Racing TV, though RMG continues negotiations for extensions to its broadcasting rights amid competitive pressures from ITV's new four-year free-to-air deal for major UK races from 2027 to 2030.[30] The channel maintains comprehensive coverage of all 61 British and Irish racecourses without any reported losses of fixtures.[31] Viewer engagement has grown through social media initiatives, including pundit nominations of horses to follow for the 2025 Flat season, such as Almaqam and Sandtrap, which generated significant online interaction and anticipation.[32]Ownership and Governance
Racecourse Media Group
The Racecourse Media Group (RMG) was established in 2004 as a joint venture among British racecourses to oversee the commercial and broadcasting operations of what was then known as Racing UK, now rebranded as Racing TV.[1] This formation allowed participating racecourses to collectively manage media rights and revenue streams, creating a unified platform for horse racing coverage that has since grown to include 37 shareholder racecourses.[33] As a limited company, RMG operates with a board comprising representatives from its major racecourse shareholders and maintains a structure free of external investors as of 2025.[1] Its primary responsibilities include negotiating media rights agreements on behalf of the racecourses, managing subscription services for the channel, and distributing revenue generated from these activities back to the shareholder racecourses.[1] This model ensures equitable sharing of broadcasting income, supporting the financial sustainability of the participating venues. One of RMG's key achievements is its revenue sharing framework, which has returned over £100 million cumulatively to racecourses since its inception, providing essential funding for racing infrastructure and operations.[1] Distinct from the direct operations of the Racing TV channel, which handles on-air broadcasting and production, RMG focuses exclusively on backend governance, including rights management and financial distribution, thereby separating commercial strategy from content delivery.[1]Shareholders and Structure
Racing TV is operated by the Racecourse Media Group (RMG), a holding company that is 100% owned by 37 British racecourse shareholders as of 2025.[33][34] These shareholders collectively control the commercialisation of their media and data rights, ensuring that all operating profits are returned to the racecourses in the form of licence fees.[35] There is no single majority owner, with equity distributed among the participating racecourses to promote collaborative governance.[34] The shareholder racecourses encompass major venues renowned for their high-profile events, including Aintree (home of the Grand National), Ascot (host of Royal Ascot), Cheltenham (site of the Cheltenham Festival), Epsom Downs (venue for the Derby), and York (known for the Ebor Festival). Other key shareholders include Doncaster, Goodwood, Newmarket, Sandown Park, and Lingfield Park, representing a mix of historic and prominent tracks across the UK. The full list of 37 shareholders comprises tracks owned by groups such as The Jockey Club (e.g., Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs), Arena Racing Company (e.g., Doncaster, Windsor), and independent operators (e.g., Ascot, York), along with smaller venues like Beverley, Carlisle, and Wincanton.[36][37] RMG's structure originated with the launch of Racing UK in 2004, initially involving 30 leading UK racecourses seeking greater control over their broadcasting rights.[3] The number of shareholders grew to 34 by 2019, reflecting expansions that incorporated additional tracks and extended rights management to all 26 Irish racecourses, though the core equity remains with British venues; it has since increased to 37.[20][38][39] This growth has enabled RMG to negotiate broader media deals, benefiting all participants through pooled resources. Governance is managed through annual general meetings of the shareholders, where key decisions on rights agreements and operations are made, with RMG's board overseeing day-to-day execution.[40] In 2024, RMG distributed £113 million in payments to its shareholders, derived primarily from subscriptions, advertising, and betting shop streams, which supports racecourse maintenance, prize money contributions, and infrastructure improvements.[41] These funds underscore the model's focus on reinvesting media revenues directly into the racing ecosystem.Broadcast Coverage
Contracted Racecourses
Racing TV maintains exclusive live broadcasting rights for 61 racecourses across the United Kingdom and Ireland, enabling comprehensive coverage of British and Irish horse racing.[4] These venues are categorized into 35 shareholder racecourses, which are equity owners through the Racecourse Media Group (RMG), and 26 additional contracted racecourses, encompassing all Irish tracks.[42] Select non-shareholder UK venues such as Doncaster and Ascot provide limited coverage on certain fixtures like British Champions Day.[43][44] The shareholder racecourses form the core of Racing TV's UK portfolio and include major flat and jumps venues like Newmarket, Goodwood, and York. This group expanded from 27 founding tracks at Racing UK's launch in 2004 to 35 as of 2025, reflecting strategic consolidations in media rights management, including the addition of Fakenham Racecourse in 2023.[45][2][46] The complete list of RMG shareholder racecourses is:- Aintree
- Ayr
- Bangor-on-Dee
- Beverley
- Carlisle
- Cartmel
- Catterick Bridge
- Chelmsford City
- Cheltenham
- Chester
- Epsom Downs
- Exeter
- Fakenham
- Goodwood
- Hamilton Park
- Haydock Park
- Huntingdon
- Kelso
- Kempton Park
- Leicester
- Ludlow
- Market Rasen
- Musselburgh
- Newbury
- Newmarket
- Nottingham
- Perth
- Pontefract
- Redcar
- Salisbury
- Sandown Park
- Stratford-on-Avon
- Taunton
- Thirsk
- Warwick
- Wetherby
- Wincanton
- York
- Ballinrobe
- Bellewstown
- Clonmel
- Cork
- Curragh
- Downpatrick
- Down Royal
- Dundalk
- Fairyhouse
- Galway
- Gowran Park
- Kilbeggan
- Killarney
- Laytown
- Leopardstown
- Limerick
- Listowel
- Naas
- Navan
- Punchestown
- Roscommon
- Sligo
- Thurles
- Tipperary
- Tramore
- Wexford