The Racing Post website is reporting that Clare Balding will only work on C4's racing coverage on only NINE days next year, being the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot.
To me, that's utterly pointless. C4 should have told her to stick to her current 40 days a year or none at all.
The Racing Post website is reporting that Clare Balding will only work on C4's racing coverage on only NINE days next year, being the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot.
To me, that's utterly pointless. C4 should have told her to stick to her current 40 days a year or none at all.
I agree with you, don't see the point if she's only going to do nine days and that she's going to be doing the Boat Race for the BBC instead of the Grand National
I agree with you, don't see the point if she's only going to do nine days and that she's going to be doing the Boat Race for the BBC instead of the Grand National
The Derby to be moved to 4.30pm to try to improve viewing figures for Channel 4 Racing.
Exactly! It's what helped them trump the BBC to wrest coverage of the Grand National, the Derby, Royal Ascot and the like, after years of pleading poverty to the horse racing authorities about not being able to afford to pay to cover racing.
C4 stopped covering Bank Holiday Monday meetings in the spring/summer months about 11/12 years ago. Also, in the intervening years, various big 3-day meetings in the spring and summer, which traditionally were from Tuesday-Thursday, were shifted from Wednesday-Friday (and in the case of Newmarket's July meeting, Thursday-Saturday as recently as 3 years ago).
Whether we like it or not, Deal or No Deal with Noel Edmonds (or Come Dine With Me for that matter) will always get better viewing figures and is more cost effective for C4 to broadcast.
Deal or No Deal doesn't get ratings nowadays and has been moved to 15:00. Horses is also not worth showing outside the Grand National unless you have a equivalent of BBC Red Button.
Channel 4 appear to be getting more serious.
They announced 4 hours of coverage on Dubai World Cup day last week, this may mean they don't have the break for Come dine with me.
I agree with you, don't see the point if she's only going to do nine days and that she's going to be doing the Boat Race for the BBC instead of the Grand National
I cant believe that by choice she would want to cover the boat race instead of the biggest horse race of the season which she has been presenting for over 15 years?
Is this the BBC saying YOU WILL present the boat race?
Almost as if she is losing interest in her beloved sport or channel 4 losing interest in her?
Clare says that because the BBC are showing the women's boat race for the first time she is keen to present that as she is a promoter of women's sport. Channel 4 have definitely not lost interest in her.
Clare says that because the BBC are showing the women's boat race for the first time she is keen to present that as she is a promoter of women's sport. Channel 4 have definitely not lost interest in her.
Thanks Tony, that would answer that, thought there must of been more to it.
Whist Balding will be anchoring C4's coverage of Cheltenham this coming week, we still await confirmation of who will anchor the Grand National for them.
The word on the street is that C4 want a generic, non-racing presenter - who Joe Public can relate to - to anchor, despite the obvious claims of Nick Luck, who is currently the Racing Broadcaster of the Year.
As well as Balding, C4 will also be shorn of Rishi Persad for the National, who will be working for the BBC at another "National"; their coverage of the US Masters Golf from the Augusta National.
Whist Balding will be anchoring C4's coverage of Cheltenham this coming week, we still await confirmation of who will anchor the Grand National for them.
The word on the street is that C4 want a generic, non-racing presenter - who Joe Public can relate to - to anchor, despite the obvious claims of Nick Luck, who is currently the Racing Broadcaster of the Year.
As well as Balding, C4 will also be shorn of Rishi Persad for the National, who will be working for the BBC at another "National"; their coverage of the US Masters Golf from the Augusta National.
I know the majority of people tune in for the race itself so probably couldn't give to hoots about the presenter, but really?
What about someone like Alistair Down or Mike Cattermole?
I know old school but would certainly go down well with the racing enthusiasts.
I know the majority of people tune in for the race itself so probably couldn't give to hoots about the presenter, but really?
What about someone like Alistair Down or Mike Cattermole?
I know old school but would certainly go down well with the racing enthusiasts.
Exactly! But C4's way of thinking is to get a presenter who is known to the "once-a-year betting masses", harking back to the days of when it was part of Grandstand on the BBC and the Grandstand presenter of the day - be it David Coleman (RIP), Des Lynam or Sue Barker - would host the programme live from the course. Names which have been mentioned included John Inverdale (credible enough; the host of Radio Five Live's coverage of the Cheltenham Festival) and Jeremy Kyle (purely on the fact that he's a keen racegoer and racehorse owner). In a nutshell, they feel that Nick Luck is "a not big enough name" to seduce the once-a-year viewers of horse racing.
As for Down and Cattermole, if they were deemed persona non grata by C4 - or more to the point, IMG, the providers of C4's racing coverage - as part of their all-singing, all-dancing line at the end of 2012, then why should they consider them now?
Exactly! But C4's way of thinking is to get a presenter who is known to the "once-a-year betting masses", harking back to the days of when it was part of Grandstand on the BBC and the Grandstand presenter of the day - be it David Coleman (RIP), Des Lynam or Sue Barker - would host the programme live from the course. Names which have been mentioned included John Inverdale (credible enough; the host of Radio Five Live's coverage of the Cheltenham Festival) and Jeremy Kyle (purely on the fact that he's a keen racegoer and racehorse owner). In a nutshell, they feel that Nick Luck is "a not big enough name" to seduce the once-a-year viewers of horse racing.
As for Down and Cattermole, if they were deemed persona non grata by C4 - or more to the point, IMG, the providers of C4's racing coverage - as part of their all-singing, all-dancing line at the end of 2012, then why should they consider them now?[/QUOTE]
That was just my personal prediction, but you are right I doubt they even entered the minds of the producers.
Someone who will no doubt get a leading role will be Alice Plunkett, but like you say if Nick Luck isn't a bigger enough name then im sure Plunkett is way out of the question.
Amazingly I was just reading that from a link on Twitter!
It will happen for sure and will play right into the hands of the BBC who I am sure would love the Grand National and Royal Ascot back.
If other sport is anything to go by the racing authorities could stand to gain millions and they know full well if some go back to the BBC viewing figures will sharply rise.
Nick Luck will head Channel 4's Grand National coverage, with Gok Wan and Frankie Dettori.
Luck is the correct decision in my view, not sure what Dettori adds to a jump meeting and Gok Wan is just daft.
Comments
To me, that's utterly pointless. C4 should have told her to stick to her current 40 days a year or none at all.
I agree with you, don't see the point if she's only going to do nine days and that she's going to be doing the Boat Race for the BBC instead of the Grand National
The Derby to be moved to 4.30pm to try to improve viewing figures for Channel 4 Racing.
Deal or No Deal doesn't get ratings nowadays and has been moved to 15:00. Horses is also not worth showing outside the Grand National unless you have a equivalent of BBC Red Button.
When is there any racing on BBC2 ?
They announced 4 hours of coverage on Dubai World Cup day last week, this may mean they don't have the break for Come dine with me.
I cant believe that by choice she would want to cover the boat race instead of the biggest horse race of the season which she has been presenting for over 15 years?
Is this the BBC saying YOU WILL present the boat race?
Almost as if she is losing interest in her beloved sport or channel 4 losing interest in her?
Thanks Tony, that would answer that, thought there must of been more to it.
The word on the street is that C4 want a generic, non-racing presenter - who Joe Public can relate to - to anchor, despite the obvious claims of Nick Luck, who is currently the Racing Broadcaster of the Year.
As well as Balding, C4 will also be shorn of Rishi Persad for the National, who will be working for the BBC at another "National"; their coverage of the US Masters Golf from the Augusta National.
I know the majority of people tune in for the race itself so probably couldn't give to hoots about the presenter, but really?
What about someone like Alistair Down or Mike Cattermole?
I know old school but would certainly go down well with the racing enthusiasts.
Exactly! But C4's way of thinking is to get a presenter who is known to the "once-a-year betting masses", harking back to the days of when it was part of Grandstand on the BBC and the Grandstand presenter of the day - be it David Coleman (RIP), Des Lynam or Sue Barker - would host the programme live from the course. Names which have been mentioned included John Inverdale (credible enough; the host of Radio Five Live's coverage of the Cheltenham Festival) and Jeremy Kyle (purely on the fact that he's a keen racegoer and racehorse owner). In a nutshell, they feel that Nick Luck is "a not big enough name" to seduce the once-a-year viewers of horse racing.
As for Down and Cattermole, if they were deemed persona non grata by C4 - or more to the point, IMG, the providers of C4's racing coverage - as part of their all-singing, all-dancing line at the end of 2012, then why should they consider them now?
Daniel Corbett former BBC weatherman.
You've lost me
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/10/john-inverdale-x-rated-comment-cheltenham-festival
I get that this was (presumably) a slip of the tongue, but what an odd thing to say.
Jeremy Kyle all over Channel 4 this week in the Racing UK adverts.
Will he get the Aintree gig?
If he does he'll probably arrive in the VW that they keep plugging as a competition prize.....!
What a sad sad day it will be if that is going to be the case.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2990702/Racing-giving-broadcasters-chance-buy-rights-individual-races-bid-boost-declining-TV-figures.html
Amazingly I was just reading that from a link on Twitter!
It will happen for sure and will play right into the hands of the BBC who I am sure would love the Grand National and Royal Ascot back.
If other sport is anything to go by the racing authorities could stand to gain millions and they know full well if some go back to the BBC viewing figures will sharply rise.
Channel 4 lose the crown jewels and I reckon they will throw the towel in altogether.
Luck is the correct decision in my view, not sure what Dettori adds to a jump meeting and Gok Wan is just daft.
http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/nick-luck-luck-to-head-up-grand-national-team-for-channel-4/1837059/latest/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews