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Some rumours going around social media and twitter that Racing UK is to be rebranded Racing tv in 2019 and to become more studio based with less on track presentation.
The big plus of RUK is their coverage is superb at the big meetings when they only have 1/2 meetings to show,indeed I would go as far to say its better than being there and a welcome antidote to what ITV serve up.
But there is a dark cloud looming in the shape of Irish racing,as there is just so much of it.
Yes it will be nice watching the graded jump races on the winter Sundays but how are they going to fit it all in?Leopardstown on Boxing Day for example.
This summer there was an Irish race both 5 minutes before and after The Coral-Eclipse so that would ruin coverage of that Group one and there’s was more examples like this.
I know they have RUK extra,but that’s no use if I’m recording it as I’m out etc.
It seems they will be charging the same for less quality and that can only end one way.If true, poor on both counts. How long and how many minds must it have taken to come up with such a sparkling and innovative name as Racing TV. The current channel’s on track presentation is one of its strongest points. I don’t want to pay to watch some bore droning on in the studio, with no feel of being on course, especially about minor Irish meetings while Ascot is being shown elsewhere.
I agree, it can only end one way and that means everything will be gobbled up by Sky Sports Racing.
@goldenmiller Sky Sports Racing will not gobble everything up RUK has signed it’s courses up to long term deals which means no one will be swapping sides for a long time.
I already think that there is too much studio stuff. Going back to the Setanta days, I don’t remember there being any. I suppose with the volume of racing they will have on some days, and not all in the UK, it will make life easier to present the Irish cards (for example) in the same way that they do the French racing now, with a presenter and the local expert. I’m hanging on to my subscription more out of morbid curiosity at this point.
Cancelled it a few months ago and glad I did, couldn’t even be tempted back by their 10 quid offer last week lol. Some of the personnel employed by them make dreadful viewing eg Nevison, Stevenson, O’Connell, Richmond, Sigsworth etc. I’d sooner look at the horses in the paddock and going to post than listen to that lot. Plenty of adverts now too, seeing they charge 25 quid a month
You can watch any race you want these days elsewhere anyway.
Someone probably made a comment that with Irish racing coming to Racing UK it will hardly be RUK anymore and another suggests changing the name to Racing TV… And chinese whispers continue until the rumours circulate.
Lot of subscribers watch on other screens, so it’s hardly Racing TV anyway. If a name change is needed what about Racing UK & I?
Value Is EverythingAccording to the RP tomorrow, a fair bit of Irish racing will only be available to view online. I really hope this isn’t true.
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!If RUK is to maintain current standards there isn’t room for everything. Some racing will have to go.
Value Is EverythingWell it’s South African & US Racing all over again RUK can’t bear any other channel to have racing so they buy the rights then don’t bother showing them properly.
RUK just wanted to get the rights away from ATR thinking it would mean the channel shutting down they didn’t consider a major rebrand to Sky Sports Racing, now they have got the rights we can’t really be bothered to show them.
No real surprise as it’s not possible to fit it all in and as it is it’s a shambles at times thanks to “planning ” by the incompetent BHA
To be honest maybe it is time for the tv rights to be taken out of the hands of the courses and handed out like the premier league rights are handed out in packages.
The courses will say we have a right to sell to who we like but in football even the dominate rich clubs have to abide by the rules of how the rights are sold as long as it isn’t done the irish way
If they were sold in packages it would even out the fixtures and allow both channels to have an equal share of the courses per day and avoid clashes.
Nothing will change while the jockey club owning all the big courses can sell the tv rights to their own company it needs to be done independently and fairly not they way it is done now.
That article is scaremongering from an Irish perspective. The writer, for example, talks about New Year’s Day when 2 Irish meetings will be added to the existing 4 British ones. What’s likely to happen is Fairyhouse will be on the main channel while Tramore is only available online.
For RUK, or whatever it will be called, the trick is not to alienate and lose existing subscribers, go bust in a few years and thus let SSR gobble up everything. Using NYD again as the example, what we viewers will want to see is plenty of top coverage from Cheltenham plus good supporting cards at Musselburgh, Exeter and Fairyhouse. Just about doable if Fairyhouse is willing to fit in to the timing schedule and not have the uncooperative approach currently adopted by many Irish tracks. Unfortunately, there is also an obligation to show Catterick. Even without Tramore on the main channel this will be pushing it, will detract from the enjoyment of Cheltenham and could be chaotic. Split screens are garbage. This sort of thing will likely lead to viewers in droves switching to ITV and even those of us who think ITV’s coverage also detracts from the enjoyment will be questioning why we are paying up to £25 per month for something the best parts of which can be seen for free.
I agree with a lot of what Golden Miller says. As a jumps fan I find the majority of flat racing to be boring, especially in Ireland, so have been more than happy for it to all appear on ATR. From next year however I have to endure the likes of The Curragh being on Racing UK and instantly changing to another channel to avoid it. If its still an option I may well swap to having a jumps only membership, and believe many other people will do the same.
Yeah, Phil, the extra Flat meetings from Ireland on big Jumping days will be unwelcome and ought to go on the website only. I don’t think there is an option for Jumps or Flat only membership. What RUK really need to do is have two channels, basically one for Flat and one for Jumps but when there are a lot of meetings on the same day the Irish meetings could be shown on the second channel. Therefore, in the summer when there are, say, 5 British Flat meetings, 1 British Jumps, 2 Irish Flat and 1 Irish Jumps, the 5 British Flat could be shown on one channel and the 4 other meetings on the second channel. For £25 per month it’s called giving people a choice. Won’t happen though. Next year I may well cancel my subscription for four months in the summer and rejoin. I’m going to weigh things up when I’ve seen what SSR is like and against various other online sports packages I have.
Meanwhile, RUK has responded to Forristal’s article (courtesy The Guardian):
“Responding to the Racing Post piece, a Racing UK spokesman tells me his company values this chance to “showcase the stories” of the Flat and jump-racing seasons, with so much quality British and Irish racing on its schedule. “Racing UK, SIS and Horse Racing Ireland have been working closely over the summer to ensure minimum congestion and clashes on race fixtures and times,” he said.
“The channel will devote more on-air coverage, dedicated Irish features, previews and analysis shows to ensure it receives the prominence it merits. Viewers will also enjoy Irish racing at a far reduced latency [meaning delay from live] with less advertising than they’re used to.” Further new elements are promised for later in the year.”
Increased cooperation is good, however, RUK has said nothing here it hasn’t said already and the emphasis on quality continues to suggest that minor Irish meetings will be online only on busy days.
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