June 11 start for At The Races
ATR also confirmed they have agreed a deal for the rights to show racing from Newton Abbot, taking their total number of tracks to 26.
Meanwhile, their rival station The Horse Racing Channel has secured a contract with a South African company and the Tote for international distribution of their pictures when the channel launches.
ATR, which will have SIS as its broadcast production partner, will kick off with meetings at Chepstow and Southwell before Royal Ascot starts the following Tuesday.
SIS have been contracted to produce live race coverage, live programming from the tracks and all studio programming for At The Races.
The channel’s emphasis will be on coverage from the courses with production standards and editorial control resting with At The Races.
Although THRC have not set a launch date yet, they have agreed a deal to distribute their pictures internationally in partnership with Phumelela Gold Enterprises of South Africa (PGE), and the Horserace Totalisator Board (Tote).
THRC have 28 tracks signed onto their channel at present including those owned by the Racecourse Holdings Trust which encompasses Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom and Sandown.
The three-year deal THRC have signed will give them exclusive access to the best of South African racing, including the Durban July Handicap and the Johannesburg Summer Cup to add to their British programme.
The deal guarantees a minimum payment to THRC, plus the prospect of additional revenues, as PGE exploits the full potential of THRC pictures in new and existing international markets.
