RTÉ Sport
Boylesports, Ireland’s largest independent bookmaker, has signed up to sponsor RTÉ Sport’s coverage of horse racing across television, radio, online and mobile. The deal represents a seven-figure investment by Boylesports, which already sponsors most of the top Irish racing events, including the Boylesports Irish Grand National and the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby.
John Boyle, the chief executive of Boylesports, said: “We have always been happy to support Irish sport in general and racing in particular. We already sponsor many of Ireland’s most significant racing fixtures but to continue to be successful those fixtures must benefit from broadcast coverage. That is why this partnership is important, not only for RTÉ and Boylesports, but for the future of Irish racing. This deal cements our place as Ireland’s number one bookmaker in terms of monetary contributions towards Irish racing.”
RTÉ broadcasts 24 days of live Irish racing coverage on television each year, featuring the great racing days from all the major festivals, with live television coverage also simulcast on RTÉ.ie 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 Boylesports Irish Grand National, Hennessy Gold Cup, Irish Champion Stakes and the blue-ribbon event of the flat season, the Irish Derby. In addition RTÉ Sport covers the key race meetings from the UK, including the Aintree Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival.
The two-year deal will see Boylesports feature prominently in all RTÉ racing coverage on television, radio and online. Boylesports will also appear on RTÉ’s In-Vision split-screen television advertisements across all of RTÉ’s Irish racing coverage. RTÉ and Boylesports will develop innovative integrations between live television and mobile applications to support the ever-increasing number of sports fans who are watching racing while multi-tasking through their mobile devices.
Dermot Rigley, Commercial Manager, RTÉ Sport said: “Offering cut-through across all platforms under one brand is RTÉ’s unique offering to the market. Irish racing remains on terrestrial free-to-air television and Boylesports has secured a powerful association with Irish Racing across all of RTÉ’s market-leading platforms.This partnership is a great endorsement of RTÉ Sport’s output and their powerful audience reach and we’re delighted to welcome Boylesports on board”.
About Boylesports:
Boylesports was founded in 1989 by current owner and CEO, John Boyle. Today with 197 betting shops across the country employing 1,500 people, Boylesports is Ireland’s largest independently-owned bookmaker. Boylesports has one of the fastest-growing mobile web and App presences in Ireland and the UK, which has grown by 180% over the past 12 months.
Further Information: FergusMcCormack, Press Officer, RTÉ. 01 2083117, 086 8674751 fergus.mccormack@rte.ie