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Old 16-03-2012, 21:07
mlt11
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Cheltenham in particular, and to a lesser extent jump racing generally beyond the Grand National, have a profile now beyond anything they ever had when the BBC had Cheltenham and a definite advantage in the winter game (some of the jump meetings that filled out the ITV7 were shockingly poor - Fakenham, for heaven's sake! - but that didn't seem to matter so much in the 70s when the Flat was still widely seen as the only "proper" racing). Cheltenham's profile having risen while it's been on C4 is actually proof positive that you don't have to be on the BBC to gain a "national event" status beyond anything you had historically (in the 70s, let alone earlier, the Flat starting a week later probably inspired more excitement throughout the media).

Ascot does have historical associations that go beyond that, though. Whether or not you believe in shadowy rumours of royal interference, it may be one of the few things that modern-day Conservatives would ever allow to buck the market. But those very associations may be the main things putting a younger audience off - Cheltenham, which seemed so shire and tweedy in its BBC days, now seems massively egalitarian by comparison, and I think we can thank Channel 4 for that.
I find it hard to judge how the profile of Cheltenham has changed since the 70s but IF its profile has improved isn't that just a case of the fact that the profile of most sports has improved since the 70s - there's just far more media coverage now of almost all big events.

I think it would be hard to argue that the Grand National's profile has been harmed by remaining on the BBC - it remains the highest profile race by a million miles. I can't imagine it would have a higher profile if it was on C4.

I know it's not fair to compare viewing figures for Cheltenham (on weekdays) to anything at the weekend. But I think it's inconceivable that the Grand National would get a peak of 8m on C4 (its BBC peak from memory).

Of course TV viewing figures are only one measure of an event's profile / success - they are certainly far from the only consideration.
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Old 16-03-2012, 21:36
Armagideon Time
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So no announcement during Cheltenham of a new exclusive TV deal with C4 for all racing.

I wonder if HMQ is having a word with the Chairman of the BBC and the trustees of Ascot - both of whom she (formally) appoints???
According to an article in today's Racing Post (not available online), an announcement would be made "within the next 72 hours" and members of the BBC racing team have been told to "expect a phone call expecting the worst".
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Old 16-03-2012, 22:00
kenjude
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I feel the BBC has lost the plot to such an extent that the miniscule amount of racing it has will hardly be missed. The best thing about the Champions Day coverage at Ascot at the tail end of last season was Hayley Turner - when she was allowed to speak. Which wasn't anywhere near enough because Balding couldn't keep her mouth shut long enough to get maximum value from Ms Turner.

The loss of Setanta in the UK was bad news because it made Racing UK justifiable even after my racing interest dropped from its peak levels. Can't really justify £20 per month for a single channel. But if and when they go HD and if the price dropped to a tenner a month I would re-subscribe instantly and consign Ch4 to history. Lydia Hislop and Racing UK generally knocks spots off Ch4.
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Old 16-03-2012, 23:12
pakokelso93
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Don't watch tons of racing. I however can't stand Lydia Hislop on Racing UK. I like CH4's coverage. I still think Derek Thompson and Lesley Graham should be presenting (certainly like how they did more a few years ago). Not so keen on Alistair and Alice.

I am in the 'i don't mind Clare balding' category. I think she is a very solid presenter and would fit into CH4 very well. To add to Simon Holt, he is brilliant. Jim McGrath on BBC is very good but you sense he is looking to pull reigns in over the next few years. Another shout for a great horse racing commentator is Ian Bartlett.
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Old 17-03-2012, 01:38
doffer
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As for the comments about coverage being better than in the early 90s- I should bloody hope so, given the massive advances in technology since then. Durr...
Do you mean Frankie?

Actually, I think I may have shown my age there!
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Old 17-03-2012, 09:57
Vericacious
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Do you mean Frankie?

Actually, I think I may have shown my age there!
No, mon fils.

(Oops, just shown my age, too.)
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Old 17-03-2012, 14:26
steveh31
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What annoys me with C4 racing is like today when they sit in a studio talking and don't go to the racecourse. Why are they sat in Cheltenham and not out and giving better coverage of Uttoxeter and Ffos Las. Cheltenham is over move on you don't need four people sat there looking bored. Poor Derek is tryng to do it all.
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Old 17-03-2012, 14:31
doffer
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No, mon fils.

(Oops, just shown my age, too.)
So glad someone else got the reference
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Old 17-03-2012, 14:49
ftv
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I am not a racing person (although I enjoy watching horses running) and don't bet. But from what has been said on this thread it seems the BBC coverage won't really be missed, if only because the races are also available on other channels like ATR and I know my betting friends can watch in the local bookie's.But it will be more worrying if the BBC begins to adopt this approach to such sports as football. I appreciate if cuts have to be made, something has to give and sport can't be ring-fenced. But the BBC still has about £3 billion a year to spend
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Old 17-03-2012, 15:08
Chris1964
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I am not a racing person (although I enjoy watching horses running) and don't bet. But from what has been said on this thread it seems the BBC coverage won't really be missed, if only because the races are also available on other channels like ATR and I know my betting friends can watch in the local bookie's.But it will be more worrying if the BBC begins to adopt this approach to such sports as football. I appreciate if cuts have to be made, something has to give and sport can't be ring-fenced. But the BBC still has about £3 billion a year to spend
Certainly with racing, the BBC has adopted the role of effectively cherry picking a few grand moments in the sport. I am not a racing fan (the ITV7 drove me insane as a kid and that feeling has stuck to the extent that I have never been to a racecourse).
The National though is a bit more, more than a horse race and the long history and tradition of broadcasting it has been entwined with BBC radio and television since 1927. Peter O'Sullivan called home the winner on 50 occasions. So for me it will seem strange that the corporation wont be involved. Having said that I felt the same about Test Cricket and Channel 4 did a good job. The only downside is that live Cricket took the Channel 4 route to SKY and is now completely lost to terrestrial broadcasters.
One thing is for certain, no broadcaster can match the BBC when it comes to cross promotion and audience pull for big sporting events. I hope the racing hierarchy dont have some regrets to count some time in the future.
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Old 17-03-2012, 15:50
Sue_Aitch
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At least Teletext on Freeview has a Red Button support for Channel 4 Racing.
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Old 18-03-2012, 10:06
Hopp & Vine
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BBC TV's Sports coverage started to go down the pan when a government committee forced them to sell off the BBC TV Outsidebroadcast fleet and all its crews, they like many broadcasters in uk now use private OB facilities for events which cannot be cheap, and perhaps added to Beebs nail in the coffin of sports coverage.
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Old 18-03-2012, 16:51
pontypaul
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No, mon fils.

(Oops, just shown my age, too.)
You beat me to it. I was going to Wade in!
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Old 18-03-2012, 21:28
Brekkie
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And so it is confirmed: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/hor...next-year.html
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Old 18-03-2012, 22:22
Armagideon Time
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Love J A McGrath's little dig; "a company who once claimed it could no longer cover the sport without financial assistance from the Levy Board".
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Old 18-03-2012, 22:29
Glenn A
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The end of an era then, the BBC have given up on horse racing, same as cricket and live football have now gone. Yet they still persist with tedious snooker, when surely the Grand National is a far bigger event.
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Old 18-03-2012, 23:42
realwales
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The end of an era then, the BBC have given up on horse racing, same as cricket and live football have now gone. Yet they still persist with tedious snooker, when surely the Grand National is a far bigger event.
Snooker is the second most watched sport on terrestrial television.
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Old 19-03-2012, 00:00
Armagideon Time
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The end of an era then, the BBC have given up on horse racing, same as cricket and live football have now gone. Yet they still persist with tedious snooker, when surely the Grand National is a far bigger event.
To say "given up" is a bit strong; more like "priced out".

And for that, it's down to the Tory-led Govermnent and their 6-year licence fee freeze, which has meant a 15% reduction in the sports rights budget.
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Old 19-03-2012, 00:01
JSemple3
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I wonder if Channel 4 will poach some of the BBC Crew? (Just like sky did with the BBC F1 crew)
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Old 19-03-2012, 00:16
Armagideon Time
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It's officially confirmed

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/17423844
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Old 19-03-2012, 00:39
markmc2k5
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Wow I really didn't expect them to give up The Grand National! End of an era indeed and a huge surprise.
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Old 19-03-2012, 00:40
markmc2k5
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Snooker is the second most watched sport on terrestrial television.
Tennis surely is second?
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Old 19-03-2012, 00:42
AJRevitt
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At least it's still on free to air terrestrial.
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Old 19-03-2012, 01:19
sporter92
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http://www.channel4.com/info/press/n...g-crown-jewels

Channel 4 take on winning the rights
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Old 19-03-2012, 01:20
linkinpark875
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Will soon be no sport on the BBC.
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