ITV Pens Deal to Broadcast UK Horseracing Through 2030

Big news for horseracing aficionados as ITV has penned a four-year agreement to continue broadcasting UK horseracing through 2030. Fans can look forward to exclusive, free-to-air coverage of some of Britain’s top races.

The Expanded Deal Will Ensure Fans Have Access to Free-to-Air Coverage

The new deal will run from 2027 until the end of 2030 and encompasses 117 days of live coverage. The coverage will be shown across ITV1, ITV4, STV and STV Player, all simulcast on ITVX. The agreement also includes The Opening Show morning program.

As mentioned, fans can look forward to watching some of the top races in British racing. These include the likes of the Randox Grand National, Royal Ascot, the Cheltenham Festival and the Betfred Derby, among others.

According to the announcement, ITV will also include five races from the main site and an unspecified minimum for all the fixtures on ITV4.

ITV Horse Racing Is Enjoying Its Best Year Yet

The expanded deal is big news for horseracing fans who will be able to enjoy cutting-edge coverage, bringing them closer to the sport. For context, ITV’s racing coverage has been decorated with two BAFTAs (in 2018 and 2024). In the meantime, ITV members Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani have been named broadcast presenters of the year in 2019 for their ITV broadcasting.

The official announcement added that ITV Horse Racing is currently enjoying its best year yet. The division has so far generated some 15 million streams. Additional highlights show that ITV also hit its biggest peak audience of 5.2 million during the Grand National. Viewership of Royal Ascot was also on the rise, increasing by 20% year-on-year and attracting 5 million viewers. The Cheltenham Festival, on the other hand, hit its peak audience for the last four years, reaching a peak of 1.8 million viewers. Last but not least, the Derby’s audience reached 1.3 million, marking a new peak for the last two years.

ITV’s Partners Hailed the Deal

Representatives praised the extended ITV arrangement, calling it a “vital deal for ITV Sport” and the broader UK racing sector. Niall Sloane, ITV’s director of sport, said that the agreement will ensure that the very best fixtures are available free-to-air on ITV.

ITV’s partners, which include Racecourse Media Group, The Jockey Club, Arena Racing Company, and Ascot Racecourse, were likewise pleased with the agreement.

Nick Mills, CEO of Racecourse Media Group, said that the expanded deal will provide British racing with “an exceptional level of visibility.” Jim Mullen, CEO of The Jockey Club, hailed ITV’s passion for the sport and said that the entire racing sector will benefit greatly from the expanded deal. Felicity Barnard, CEO of Ascot Racecourse, agreed that the deal was “very good news” and praised ITV’s editorial expertise and production values. David Leyden Dunbar, director of commercial strategy at Arena Racing Company, added that the deal cemented a 14-year relationship his team has enjoyed with ITV.

Last but not least, Brant Dunshea, CEO of the British Horseracing Authority, expressed excitement that the broader audience will be able to receive premium racing coverage. He added: “It is also exciting to consider what the future can hold in terms of working together around innovation in the broadcast experience, with growth in engagement with racing and attracting and retaining our audiences being a core area of focus for the sport’s industry strategy.”