A second racing channel again?

mike2084

The Racing Post is reporting that a successor to the Racing Channel may be in the offing.

See:

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/?MIval=rp_std_page&psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=top11

You may have to register to view the page.

robert muldoon

Originally posted by Michael Walsh
The Racing Post is reporting that a successor to the Racing Channel may be in the offing.

See:

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/?MIval=rp_std_page&psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=top11

You may have to register to view the page.

Hope you are right!

Mossy Monk

Originally posted by Michael Walsh
You may have to register to view the page.

you do

Icehouse

Can someone just post the txt on here please? Thanx.

Dec4

Ice House here you go

Successor to Racing Channel could be in offing


by Lee Mottershead



A SUCCESSOR to the now defunct Racing Channel could be on air within months after it became apparent that detailed talks are taking place between groups intending to rival Attheraces.

SIS, which produced the Racing Channel for its American owners The Racing Network International, is currently in negotiations with a number of parties with a view to providing a similar service to any new broadcasting platform.

Coinciding with those talks, SIS - who are in a position to offer pictures from the ten British racecourses not covered by Attheraces - are also taking part in discussions with Horse Racing Ireland, the goal being to secure rights to Irish racing, the absence of which effectively brought about the demise of the Racing Channel.

Although a Sunday newspaper named bookmaker Victor Chandler as being one of those interested in creating a new channel, SIS chief executive David Holdgate refused to disclose the identity of those involved.

"There are several interested parties talking to us about utilising our expertise and space," he said on Sunday.

"None have yet reached contractual stage but we remain hopeful that one will come to us with a viable business plan to take things forward in the not too distant future."

Confirming that SIS was not set to become involved as a joint-owner of any new channel, Holdgate added: "SIS sees its role as a production company and facility provider to one of the new channels."

Having ended its relationship with the Racing Channel, Horse Racing Ireland also turned down an offer by Attheraces to broadcast selected Irish races.

Although the company has been considering setting up its own digital service, chief executive Brian Kavanagh on Sunday confirmed discussions with SIS, who intend to sell on the rights to any successor to the Racing Channel.

Kavanagh, who has been informed by racecourses that televised coverage of meetings had an adverse effect on gate numbers, said: "I can confirm discussions are taking place and we are awaiting detailed proposals from SIS.

“When we get those, we will put them before our Media Rights Committee with a view to securing coverage of Irish racing on a commercial basis."


I'd guarantee that it will be a subscription channel and even at that HRI will have their work cut out getting the Jerry Desmonds of this world to agree to it!!

mike2084

I thought you couldn't just copy a newspaper article straight on to the site otherwise I'd have done it.

mike2084

The Irish Times Have now taken up on this story. (irish-racing.com is run by the times.)

Blackout may end

2nd Jul: Horse Racing Ireland are awaiting proposals regarding the possibility of showing pictures of Irish racing on a new channel but a spokesman admitted yesterday they are "interested" in the new idea that has been put to them.

SIS, who produced the old Racing Channel, are in negotiations with HRI, and a number of other interested parties, to see if a successor can be started in competition to attheraces.

HRI has already turned down an offer from attheraces to show the top races in Ireland and is also pursuing the idea of starting its own digital channel.

However, meetings have taken place with SIS and the HRI chief executive, Brian Kavanagh, confirmed yesterday the media rights committee will be able to recommend an option to the board on the 29th of his month.

"There are serious possibilities with this and we are waiting on proposals in the near future," he said. Kavanagh added: "We are still discussing the idea of our own channel with different people but we have to make sure there is a sufficient volume of product to keep it busy.

"People think we are terribly busy during the summer but it is only one meeting a day. I would not rule out setting up our own channel but it would have to be done in conjunction with showing French, South African or even American racing.

"If the proposal that we think might come from SIS does come then it wouldn´t actually be a million miles from our own channel anyway. Irish racing would be the lead product in it." Kavanagh also pointed to the fallout from Sunday when attheraces showed a nondescript jump race from Uttoxeter in preference to the Group 1 Grand Prix de St Cloud.

"Attheraces wanted to cherry pick 50 odd races a year here and what happened on Sunday was exactly the concern that we had when dealing with them.

"Part of the rationale behind the SIS proposals are that any new channel would also show more American racing.

"On attheraces at the moment there has been a reduction in the amount of American racing shown because of the clashes with evening racing in Britain," Kavanagh said.

There have been no live pictures of Irish race meetings since the old Racing Channel folded and a concern for HRI will be the rise in attendance figures that followed that closure.

From:
http://www.irish-racing.com/v3news3.htm