The start time of the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree in April has been put back by an hour to 5:15pm "in an attempt to increase viewing figures," according to Rob Wright of the LONDON TIMES. A "peak audience of 8.9 million watched Many Clouds win the world’s most famous race on Channel 4 this year, but that figure is still down on the 11 million who watched the final broadcast on the BBC in 2012." The race attracted 600 million viewers worldwide but research has shown that "a later start time will bring an even bigger domestic and global audience by making it more accessible to watch live." A handicap hurdle for conditional and amateur jockeys "will now be the only race which will follow the Grand National." Channel 4 "has been proactive in its attempts to boost viewing figures on racing in general, with AP McCoy, the 20-time champion jockey, having recently started as a pundit, while this year helping to fund the creation of a helmet camera, which brings viewers closer to the action." The Aintree coverage "will also see the return of presenter Clare Balding, who chose to cover the Boat Race for the BBC this year" (LONDON TIMES, 12/1).
