Racing Channel To Lose Irish Coverage

The Racing Channel is on the verge of losing even more ground to Attheraces after it was revealed that Irish racing could be within two weeks of transferring to its dominant rival.

The news came on the day that Attheraces announced its intention to encroach further on Racing Channel territory by covering South African racing, as well as revealing that its plans to cover French racing were near to fruition.

Since Attheraces` launch in April, the Racing Channel has relied heavily on Irish meetings to shore up its coverage. However, following Horse Racing Ireland`s decision to begin charging for its product from the start of the year, Wednesday`s Tramore card was the first to become unavailable to armchair viewers.

Terry Ellis, director of the Racing Channel`s producer SIS, said on Wednesday that the white flag had effectively been waved.

He said: 'There is no chance at all of us showing Irish racing in the immediate future. Our offer to HRI was based on them receiving a percentage of betting revenue but HRI wanted the sum to be guaranteed.

'What is puzzling is that Irish racing is not being asked to take risks or make any investment - whatever they would get is more than they get now.'

Claiming that Attheraces was 'not a sensible alternative' to the Racing Channel as a broadcaster of Irish racing, Ellis added: 'Because of their UK commitments, Attheraces would be able to offer very little live Irish coverage. I question their commitment to Irish racing and I doubt they will promote the sport over there.'

Responding to that criticism on Wednesday, Attheraces` chief operating officer Ian Hogg insisted that a lack of live coverage in the company`s tender was part of its attraction to HRI.

He said: 'Some of the smaller Irish tracks are concerned that live coverage is damaging attendances. As such, we were asked to provide a bid that concentrated on the quality meetings. We said that we would cover the premier fixtures well, and to the samelevel we do comparable British ones, but that we would not cover live any other racing - and they were quite keen on that.'

Hogg, who suggested that Attheraces would show recordings of meetings not broadcast live, added on Wednesday: 'We believe that we will get a higher audience for the meetings we do show than would the Racing Channel.

'We will now be talking to HRI tomorrow to see if we can move the situation forward. I would say that it`s still 50-50 but that it will be solved within the first two weeks of the year.'

Such a resolution could mean Attheraces launching its new Irish service in time for Leopardstown`s Pierse Hurdle fixture on Sunday week but HRI`s media chairman Jerry Desmond was on Wednesday night insisting that a deal was not on the immediate horizon.

He said: 'Attheraces are no nearer to a deal than the Racing Channel and we are not ruling out either party. Our door is ajar if either party wants to give it a little push.'

Hogg, who disclosed that Attheraces was now looking to take on some South African racing, also revealed that the company could be covering French racing in time for the start of the Flat season in Paris.

He said: 'Looking to the summer of this year, I`d like to think that Irish, French and South African racing would all be on Attheraces.

'There is an agreement in principal for the French racing. We are just working through the detail and attempting to ensure that it is possible to bet straight into the pools.

'I would anticipate us showing all the major races, including those broadcast on the BBC - unless they have specific exclusive rights - in a similar way to that in which we share British races.

'The French also have some good evening Flat fixtures, as well as the big Sunday ones, and we might want to cover those as well.'