Coverage of horse racing from UK racecourses will continue to be broadcast free-to-air until the end of 2026.
ITV has agreed a new three-year deal to show exclusive coverage on ITV1 and ITV4. Over 100 days of the sport will be seen including Crown Jewel events the Grand National, the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot and the Derby all featuring.
The broadcaster says average audiences for major events, such as the Cheltenham Festival that starts this week, have climbed by a third overall since it took over from Channel 4 in 2017.
“This deal will take us to a decade of racing on ITV and we’re delighted to be able to continue to bring to viewers well over 100 days of live coverage of this wonderful sport, including some of the most enjoyable, storied and thrilling events of each year,” said Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport. “We look forward to continuing to work with Racecourse Media Group and our other partners within racing to bring audiences the very best racing has to offer in the coming years.”
Martin Stevenson, CEO of Racecourse Media Group, added: “On behalf of our racecourses, we are delighted to have cemented our relationship with ITV for a further three years. ITV have been an excellent partner for the sport, providing more terrestrial coverage here in the UK than in any other racing jurisdiction in the world, illustrating both the commitment of the broadcaster and the enduring popularity of the sport.”
ITV Sport’s portfolio also includes Six Nations rugby, the Rugby World Cup, England Women football team matches, UEFA EURO 2024, and the FA Cup.
