TV coverage

Mac was good for viewing figures ...almost certainly... But for the image of the sport? Dreadful in truth. His sexism was truly awful.
 
Desert Orchid said:
Yes, but should we really be appealing to the lowest common denominator?

Shouldn't we really be aiming to raise the bar in terms of analysis, insight and, dare I say, finding winners?
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all those things are boring in the main to the people they want to attract..it might suit us within..but it appears that within the game there isn't enough of us watching on TV
 
Racing is a minority sport. The constant push to try and get the general public watching it on TV is just stupid. Concentrate on getting the fans of the sport watching it then CH4 will raise figures.
 
If racing 'insiders' want higher viewing figures they should make RUK free to air. Terrestrial TV isn't interested in paying money to broadcast racing other than as a fashion show (Royal Ascot) or as national treasures (the Derby and the National) so include them in the broadcasting 'Crown Jewels' that have to be available for terrestrial and have everything else free on atr and RUK for the people who are interested in racing rather than some irritating tw@ts fashion tips.
 
archie said:
If racing 'insiders' want higher viewing figures they should make RUK free to air. Terrestrial TV isn't interested in paying money to broadcast racing other than as a fashion show (Royal Ascot) or as national treasures (the Derby and the National) so include them in the broadcasting 'Crown Jewels' that have to be available for terrestrial and have everything else free on atr and RUK for the people who are interested in racing rather than some irritating tw@ts fashion tips.
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100% agree. It's short sighted not to. Accountants ruling.

The coverage would is excellent and would certainly draw in punters who pass the sport by. Many sports fans will channel hop out of habit and that's the target audience

i would still look to keep terrestrial of course but would be a perfect showcase. Sports that need to promote themselves as a sport at a certain level do everything they can to get airtime. And racing does need to
 
Absolutely spot on. RUK free is so important, particularly as they have the majority of big races. And Digger is also right. Getting people to the races is why they get interested and watch.
 
Yes. I think you run a business and you know that visibility is all. I feel strongly about this

its not necessarily this mythical new young market but re-engaging those that like the sport but have lapsed of which I know many. I'm Far from a tv addict but I'll surf sports channels on occasions. Ok nothing will convert me to f1 or wrestling, but excellent smart coverage will draw you in. I've found that Rugby can be a case in point.

ruk has that. It's relaxed and watchable. Atr is fine but the racing is so so and the presentation is like standing in the bookies

its crazy that they don't take a long term view on this and surely certain costs could be met by advertising which must be paltry with so few viewers at present
 
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Maruco said:
Absolutely spot on. RUK free is so important, particularly as they have the majority of big races. And Digger is also right. Getting people to the races is why they get interested and watch.
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I don't know enough about RUK to make meaningful comment but I also agree wholeheartedly with Digger's point.
 
It's typical of the shortsighted approach from the racecourses. I accept that they are businesses and I assume that the revenues generated from ATR are significant, so I can only assume that the potential for increase in race day revenues isn't perceived as sufficient.

I've seen the numbers somewhere way back when, but does anyone have any idea of the current contribution from RUK that the racecourses receive? Depending what the numbers are I can see a very obvious business case in my head.

RUK going free to air would kill off the pretty poor C4 coverage and finally end the constant debate about whether it'll survive.

Broadcasting the big meetings to all is so important for the health of the sport and in some ways I hope C4 pull it to force the hand. And on that point when does the current deal expire?
 
RUK free to air? Is this real, hope or speculation ? ( forgive me if it's mentioned somewhere above - I've obviously missed it) that would be great for people like me who can't justify the cost of it but would definitely watch if it was available...
 
Ahhh. It did seem a bit too good to be true that they'd suddenly give it away!!
Goodness knows what the answer is for racing on the tv - it really needs another frankel or kauto/denman story or someone small to come along having bred/rescued one that turns into a superstar.... Unfortunately though, you can't order those.
 
For a specialist horse racing channel charging a subscription I find RUK very disappointing. 2 quality meetings on Friday with races well spaced out and hardly a horse sighted in the paddock or going to post all afternoon. Unfortunately that's par for the course the vast majority of the time even when they have only one meeting.
 
Something else I would add. I was able to watch more UK racing free of charge when I was in Australia than I can here. None of the Australian racing channels are premium subscription channels, and Australian racing continues to pull the crowds in.

The other thing they are good at doing in the metropolitan areas is making sure transport links are good, and also having well advertised entertainment on either at the racecourse or nearby for those that want to carry on afterwards.

There's no point in being a racing snob and wanting everyone in the crowd to be purists. They only come back if they go in the first place. Once they come they want a good time, not just a dry experience that they don't fully understand. Frequently I hear complaints about people just coming to get drunk with no understanding. So what. If they don't overstep the mark it doesn't matter. Hopefully if they enjoy themselves they're tempted to watch on TV and go back racing.

Also I should applaud Dan Skelton who has been writing a regular column in our local rag. I've never seen a trainer do it before in my neck of the woods. It raises his profile locally, and it has the additional benefit of providing good advertising to local courses when he has runners. I've actually been to Warwick this season simply because of his column. Outside of the two main training centres my guess is this rarely happens.
 
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Totally agree with your third paragraph ( although they need to come down HARD on the fights/abusers when they occur) bums in courses is what's needed - and if you "simplify" racing to get people interested at home, then do it !!
 
Maruco said:
Something else I would add. I was able to watch more UK racing free of charge when I was in Australia than I can here. None of the Australian racing channels are premium subscription channels, and Australian racing continues to pull the crowds in.
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Based on 2 visits in the last 18 months, I'm not sure I'd totally agree with this, at least as far as Brisbane is concerned. I went to midweek meetings at Eagle Farm (one of the main city tracks) and Ipswich (out of town but still classed as metropolitan) and in both cases the attendance was similar to Lingfield or Southwell on a winter's afternoon despite entry being close to free. Sure there were 20000 at Ascot (Perth) for the Melbourne Cup day meeting but I think that attendances are very much in line with ours with the big city weekend meetings being well attended. Also, I think the Sky Racing Channel 1 is free to air but Channel 2 is part of the sports package that has to be paid for.
 
I agree Archie. Whichever way you look at it midweek racing is midweek racing. Ironically country racing by comparison is better attended midweek. There are generally very few midweek race meetings at the metropolitan tracks though.

Sky Racing 1 has always covered the UK's main meetings with 2 dealing with overflow for meetings that clash with Australian evening racing. Generally they schedule so the the bigger UK meetings are on 1 where possible.
 
Archie, you are dead right. It's the same in New Zealand too.

Just like the UK, these two countries have fallen into the trap of sitting back and just presuming, or hoping, that people turn up, rather than getting out there and marketing the sport effectively - I can't think of a more insular sport than ours.

It needs to be pointed out to those running racing that it's not the only game in town any more, there's no forever 1953.

The days when people had to do a bit of hard graft and learn about racing if they fancied a bet have long gone.
 
Venusian said:
Archie, you are dead right. It's the same in New Zealand too.

Just like the UK, these two countries have fallen into the trap of sitting back and just presuming, or hoping, that people turn up, rather than getting out there and marketing the sport effectively - I can't think of a more insular sport than ours.

It needs to be pointed out to those running racing that it's not the only game in town any more, there's no forever 1953.

The days when people had to do a bit of hard graft and learn about racing if they fancied a bet have long gone.
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the main problem that racing has that in this country the only time racing gets media coverage ..its usually negative. It would matter not what C4 racing or the ML had been doing for the last 12 months...even if it had been brilliant and attracting new viewers..the awful documentary ..including a lot of horse racing...not long ago featuring Corals would have wiped out any good that would have achieved.

If a neutral had watched that 3 part documentary they would have seen:

1. That bookies are happy to flood the high street with shops just for machine use. they showed two in one town..one round the corner from the other.
2. That even if you win you will then you be limited or have your account closed..so you only welcome if you will please lose your money.
3. That they were happy to show a young lad who was addicted to the machines..showed him at home with a cupboard of pasta to last him a fortnight..happy enough to film him..no sign of anyone trying to help him with his addiction though.

None of the above was a good bit of PR..it was a disaster for bookieing and altogether made the whole industry look pretty grubby

whilst the above is being highlighted on mainstream, TV..its hardly surprising people aren't drawn in

the best bit is..Corals actually believed it was good PR??
 
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EC1 said:
the main problem that racing has that in this country the only time racing gets media coverage ..its usually negative. It would matter not what C4 racing or the ML had been doing for the last 12 months...even if it had been brilliant and attracting new viewers..the awful documentary ..including a lot of horse racing...not long ago featuring Corals would have wiped out any good that would have achieved.

If a neutral had watched that 3 part documentary they would have seen:

1. That bookies are happy to flood the high street with shops just for machine use. they showed two in one town..one round the corner from the other.
2. That even if you win you will then you be limited or have your account closed..so you only welcome if you will please lose your mone.
3. That they were happy to show a young lad who was addicted to the machines..showed him at home with a cupboard of pasta to last him a fortnight..happy enough to film him..no sign of anyone trying to help him with his addiction though.

None of the above was a good bit of PR..it was a disaster for bookieing and altogether made the whole industry look pretty grubby

whilst the above is being highlighted on mainstream, TV..its hardly surprising people aren't drawn in

the best bit is..Corals actually believed it was good PR??
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and what some racing people think is jolly coverage ... Others outside of the sport think is plain grubby and seedy. Barney miseryguts curley

i would add to that the countryside element too. Farmers and inbreds are not top of many peoples list of charmers

the image isn't great
 
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They should switch it to Wolverhampton - thus removing the concern over the fences - and run it round 4 and a half circuits of Dunstall Park, under floodlights at c. 9:17 PM in an advert slot during Made In Chelsea.

That'll get the viewing figures up.
 
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