RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport and Horse Racing Ireland have announced today (Wednesday 22 January, 2014) that they have agreed a new broadcasting deal for live coverage of Irish horse racing for the next four years ensuring that Irish racing fans will continue to enjoy the most prestigious days in the Irish racing calendar free-to-air television on RTÉ Television, and online on RTÉ.ie and RTÉ Player from January 2014.
RTÉ will broadcast a minimum of 24 days of live Irish racing television coverage each year for the next four years, featuring the great racing days of all the major festivals, with live television coverage also simulcast on RTÉ.ie and RTÉ Player within the Republic of Ireland.
The major festivals including Punchestown, Galway and the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown will be broadcast live, as well as the biggest races of the year; the Grand National from Fairyhouse, Gold Cup, Champion Stakes and the blue riband event of the flat season, the Irish Derby from the Curragh.
2014’s racing action on television begins with live coverage from Leopardstown this weekend on RTÉ Two with feature races the Boylesports.com Handicap Hurdle on Saturday 25 January and BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday 26 January.
RTÉ Sport is also delighted to announce that in 2014 selected race meetings will be available in High Definition and that from 2015 all RTÉ Television racing coverage will be in full HD.
Ryle Nugent, Group Head of Sport, RTÉ said, “This new agreement is a statement of intent for RTÉ underlining our commitment to Irish racing. Whilst in line with our commitment to reduce our sports rights budget, this deal represents a significant investment by RTÉ, particularly in the current economic climate. Irish horse racing coverage continues to be a priority for us and is an important part of our public service broadcasting remit as well as helping to fulfil our commitment to national teams, national games and major events.
In addition to our live television coverage there will also continue to be extensive coverage of Irish racing on RTÉ Radio sport programming and RTÉ.ie will continue to provide all the latest news, racecards and results. We look forward to bringing the public all the very best action and excitement in Irish racing.”
Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), said, “This is a very exciting time for Irish racing with our horses, trainers and riders enjoying great success at the major meetings worldwide. RTÉ have always been great partners of Irish racing and have consistently broadcast our most important meetings to the highest standards. We are delighted that this will continue through to 2017 by way of this new four year deal with the national broadcaster. The move to High Definition in 2014 will be a real winner alright for RTÉ viewers”
John Moloney, Chairman of the Association of Irish Racecourses, said “We are pleased to renew our long standing and beneficial relationship with RTÉ and look forward to a continued high standard of broadcasting from them”
ENDS
Date:
RTÉ Contact: Fergus McCormack, Press Officer, RTÉ Television, 01 2083117 / 086 8674751 Fergus.mccormack@rte.ie
HRI Contact: Joanne Burke, HRI Press Officer – Tel: 045 455 674/ 087 7408169 jburke@hri.ie
Notes to Editors:
Live coverage on RTÉ.ie available in the Republic of Ireland only.