Just when Channel 4’s coverage of racing was beginning to win applause, "the future of gee-gees on the telly is up in the air again," according to Robert Lea of the LONDON TIMES. The tape "is about to go up on another auction of broadcast rights to racing on terrestrial television, which some courses hope will dwarf" the present £20M ($30M) four-year deal. Channel 4 "took coverage away from the BBC in an exclusive deal with the racing industry in 2012" and it has won fans for its efforts. But the BBC "is likely to be back in contention this time, alongside ITV and Channel 5, lured by the rising popularity of the sport on the small screen." Racecourse Media Group, owned by a consortium of the largest courses, plus a couple of dozen other regional tracks, "is about to begin talks as the present contract expires next year." RMG CEO Richard FitzGerald said that with more money around -- the last deal was sealed in the depths of downturn -- "and with the industry more flexibile on race times and scheduling, competition should be keener." Asked if that would mean a big increase in fees being paid to the racecourses, FitzGerald said, "We would look to make a positive step in the right direction. We believe there will be significant interest" (LONDON TIMES, 4/29).
