Good news as ITV deal appears imminent

After long talks about the Grand National rebate, it would appear that an ITV deal is now imminent. The rumoured deal will see coverage on our screens until the end of 2023.

Racing makes a welcomed return

As a nation we have suffered and 2020 will certainly be a year to remember for all the wrong reasons but there are signs of an economic recovery as the UK will resume racing on Monday with a ten-race card at Newcastle.

The next big step is to make sure a deal is secured for terrestrial TV coverage and the signs are very positive on that front. ITV and rights holders had a lengthy meeting on Friday to determine how much compensation the broadcaster should receive back from the Jockey Club due to the cancellation of the Grand National.

What coverage will we see on ITV?

The current four-year arrangement that is in place is estimated to be valued at around £30 million. More good news surfaced with the information that the Irish 2,000 Guineas is likely to be broadcast live on ITV4 on Friday, June 12, where Newbury and the Curragh will provide an ITV4 double header.

Racing is now playing catch-up so it is expected that we will see racing on ITV on most Sundays through the months of June and July across the UK and Ireland. The plan is to have ITV coverage from Doncaster and Goodwood on June 14 with some added races from across the water at Leopardstown to bulk up the programme.

Julian Thick, who is the Newbury chief executive said: “It was very disappointing to lose the Lockinge meeting, and it looks as though it won’t be possible to rearrange the Lockinge, so for us to get an additional day on ITV is very exciting. Having one of our evening fixtures televised will be a new thing for us as well.”

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