大象传媒

bbc.co.uk Navigation

Barbara Slater

Horse racing on the 大象传媒 (40)

There has been lots of speculation in newspapers this week about the loss of certain racing meetings from 大象传媒 Television.

The situation isn鈥檛 resolved yet but it is looking likely that the 大象传媒 will no longer televise the festival.

The decision will rest between negotiations that are currently going on between Goodwood and Channel 4.

We have covered Goodwood for 50 years and we would be sorry to end our partnership, although we have offered to continue to cover the Glorious Goodwood meeting after 2006...

We have however decided not to offer year-round coverage of other race meetings from Goodwood.

I understand their ambition is to have their racing covered year-round and if they can find that opportunity with another broadcaster we wish them well.

We remain committed to racing and we are very proud to bring some of the greatest occasions in racing to the widest possible audience.

We have the rights until 2009 for the Grand National meeting from Aintree, the Derby meeting from Epsom and Royal Ascot.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]


Comments  Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 08:27 AM on 02 Jul 2006,
  • ianhugill wrote:

your comments are reflective of your views of racing three tracks and no commmitment to day to day meetings.

sadly you improved your coverage in recent years but your racing team dosent deserve its management. Whats the betting 3 years time no 大象传媒 racing?

  • 2.
  • At 11:33 AM on 02 Jul 2006,
  • Rob Long wrote:

Barbara, I'm interested to know how you can say "we remain committed to racing" after announcing that you've decided to dump most of your Goodwood coverage, without explaining why? Is it too expensive, not enough viewers etc? Could you explain the reasoning behind this decision?

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm having a go, but your post raises more questions than it answers. Does "committed to racing" just mean the big events that interest the public at large? If so, I think you should say so.

  • 3.
  • At 09:09 PM on 02 Jul 2006,
  • John wrote:

To Rob: it's obvious, they can say whatever they like. They work for the 大象传媒, unsullied by commercial pressures; they are above reproach; and it's about time you showed some gratitude!

  • 4.
  • At 12:42 PM on 03 Jul 2006,
  • Andy wrote:

Was Steve Rider right and it is the beginning of the 大象传媒 cutting back on Sport, it is a shame as the 大象传媒 team is so good for racing

But as they have shown with Cricket if they don't want to show it then they won't bother making the effort

Sport is a big reason the Beeb have their tv tax and if they lose events or lose intrest then it is hard to justify that tax

  • 5.
  • At 10:14 PM on 03 Jul 2006,
  • john wrote:

This decision by the 大象传媒 to cut back their racing coverage, which has effectively signalled the death of racing on 大象传媒 TV in 3 years (unless C4 and Racing UK fallout with each other in the intervening years)is shamefull. The reason it is the end of 大象传媒 Racing it that Aintree and Epsom are both in the Racing UK stable and at the end of those 3 year more than likley they will fall into line and be broadcast by C4. This is a shame as all the 大象传媒 team Clare Balding, Jim McGrath, Rishi Persad, Ian Bartlett, Willie Carson, Ray Cochrane and Angus Loughran are far better than those at channel four. Whoever made this descision in the case of Goodwood is breaking a tradition of over 50years. You lot do not deserve to be in your jobs, anyone could do a better job than you lot. Lets have someone in charge of 大象传媒 sport who cres about 大象传媒 sport as a whole, not just the red button. I could partly understand why Grandstand in its present form had to go, but completely axe it and decimate your racing coverage is crass incompentence at the very least. But the 大象传媒 only want the big events. If you are not carefull you will only have the Big events. RIP saturday afternoon sport on 大象传媒. Messers Mosey, Thompson and Grade are about to do a Birts and kill 大象传媒 sport once more. BRING BACK GREG DYKE.

  • 6.
  • At 11:59 AM on 04 Jul 2006,
  • Neil wrote:

Would it be right for the 大象传媒 to keep hold of these rights at any price? No, of course not. Any more than it would be right for the 大象传媒 to try to outbid Sky for the Prem. Face facts, the 大象传媒 struggles to compete with commercial broadcasters in terms of funding for sport.

  • 7.
  • At 02:49 PM on 04 Jul 2006,
  • John wrote:

Neil, you've completely missed the point. This is nothing about a bidding war and the 大象传媒 being unable to match the price of other broadcasters, it's about the 大象传媒 trying to pick off the "crown jewels" of racing, e.g. Grand National, Derby, Glorious Goodwood etc. but completely abandoning the the rest of racing underneath. (And then having the nerve to was lyrical about its commitment to racing.)

If there's one point to the licence fee (a tax in everything but name) it's to do the things which aren't sustainable by commercial broadcasters. Instead the 大象传媒 is using its pretty healthy finanical state to take the commercially attractive bits, and abandon the rest.

It's not just racing. Numerous minority sports are losing /have lost their television exposure because of this approach by the 大象传媒. The gradual erosion of Grandstand as a vehicle for minority sports alongisde sports with a broader appeal, is the perfect iillustration of this.

  • 8.
  • At 07:35 PM on 04 Jul 2006,
  • john wrote:

I hav enothing to say because you have not posted my previous comment so much for a fair and balanced 大象传媒. Can you not stand critisim

  • 9.
  • At 07:40 PM on 04 Jul 2006,
  • john wrote:

Where are my comments and why have they not been posted I did not use vulgar or offensive language. I pointed to the simply truth you are rubbish at you jobs and have lost Glorious Goodwood after 50years shame on you all. Please answer my comment and post this. Otherwise this is an example of 大象传媒 censorship.

  • 10.
  • At 08:07 PM on 04 Jul 2006,
  • john wrote:

Dear Barbara

I would like to say sorry about the post below:
* 8.
* At 07:40 PM on 04 Jul 2006,
* john wrote:

Where are my comments and why have they not been posted I did not use vulgar or offensive language. I pointed to the simply truth you are rubbish at you jobs and have lost Glorious Goodwood after 50years shame on you all. Please answer my comment and post this. Otherwise this is an example of 大象传媒 censorship.

When I checked your site my previous comments had still not been postedn see below:
* 5.
* At 10:14 PM on 03 Jul 2006,
* john wrote:

This decision by the 大象传媒 to cut back their racing coverage.......

Now they are there, either my PC or your site who knows. So no 大象传媒 censorship. Just a lack of commitment to racing.

  • 11.
  • At 09:27 AM on 05 Jul 2006,
  • geordie_racer wrote:

The overall coverage of racing in the British Isles [because i think we should see more irish racing too] on the 大象传媒 is inadequate. I agree that in racing [as in many other sports] the 大象传媒 is wanting the plums but shows no commitment to the rest of the sport.

An example is cricket; where the 大象传媒 cried over the loss of test matches, but only showed those from home [never tests from WIndies or Australia during otherwise dead braoadcasting time] nor any county cricket, except for finals and semis of one day games. sunday cricket had been long abandoned by the 大象传媒.

It seems that celebrity horse riding [alright its for comic relief but its also a showing off with your mates show] is more crucial to the 大象传媒 than horse racing; celebrity dancing is more important than sport generally. Instead of moaning about commercial out-bidding, has anyone at the 大象传媒 ever thought of collaborating with C4 over racing; ITV over football?

Get a deal with ATR or racing UK; show some racing on 大象传媒3 or during the day, and/or some cricket and/or some other sport and if that means sending fewer people to the world cup [they can sit in the studio at home and talk instead] I for one would be utterly delighted. Less talk, more action.

  • 12.
  • At 09:43 AM on 05 Jul 2006,
  • stephen wrote:

Three years ago the the fixture list for racing was based upon the 大象传媒 showing double headers on Saturday, so what's with the change of policy?

Remember, racing is the second most popular sport attendance wise in this country. Also, this was bound to happen when the 大象传媒 decided to drop Grandstand early this year 'cos racing was a staple part of Grandstand through the years

  • 13.
  • At 05:07 PM on 05 Jul 2006,
  • imaginelennon wrote:

The 大象传媒 stopped caring about sport years ago. I will tell you when it started. It was when Sportsnight stopped being shown on a Wednesday night.

Horse racing on the beeb is a thing of the past. Royal Ascot, Epsom Derby meeting and Grand National are all what they care about.

My growing up was based on four races on the beeb and the ITV seven on a Saturday afternoon, those days are long gone. As is Grandstand, Sportsnight, Cricket, Boxing, F1 and much more on 大象传媒 tv. Thankfully the beebs radio coverage is still the best.

  • 14.
  • At 10:13 PM on 05 Jul 2006,
  • jenny wrote:

I'm sorry, but Epsom (Derby meeting), Aintree (Grand National meeting) and Royal Ascot....this is evidence of the 大象传媒's commitment to racing as a sport?

Epsom: national institution, therefore terrestrial coverage required

Aintree: ditto

Royal Ascot: hats and hoorays

The Royal Ascot racing is good, and the National meeting also has significant other NH racing - but Goodwood? York? Doncaster? Newmarket?(to name four important Flat meetings). Cheltenham Festival, Sandown, Kempton, Newbury? (to name four important NH meetings if you count Tingle Creek, King George and Hennessy).

So the 大象传媒 is covering three meetings EVERY YEAR? And only, apparently for the next 3 years? Is that correct? If so this is something to be proud of? I don't think so.....

I recognise that so-called "minority" sports may go the way of all flesh, especially in favour of "reality" programmes and boring life-style stuff. But surely the 大象传媒 can appreciate that one of the ways they justify the license fee (which is in effect a tax on everyone who owns a television, whether they watch the 大象传媒 or not) is that they make efforts to include in their scheduling a reasonable coverage of "minority" interests, including sport.

One of the problems is that those of us who either won't or can't (for economic reasons) subscribe to satellite channels are being deprived of coverage of major events.

Wake up, 大象传媒 - you are supposed to be a public service broadcaster - but I see little in the way of "public" or "service" in your racing coverage.

  • 15.
  • At 09:23 PM on 06 Jul 2006,
  • Ash wrote:

Fantastic to see horse racing disappearing from 大象传媒 TV.
Are you clearing the deck for the return of Test cricket? I certainly hope so, and no more tedious interruptions from horse racing.
BRING TEST CRICKET HOME!

  • 16.
  • At 11:11 AM on 08 Jul 2006,
  • John CB wrote:

The 大象传媒 lost the rights to Newmarket to ITV in 1969 exactly because it would not meet the track's coverage needs. A similar pattern emerged at the other flat race courses, but the 大象传媒 hung on for various reasons to Goodwood, Kempton and Ascot,as well as Haydock. The 大象传媒 still dominated the jump season at that time. The 大象传媒 surrendered Kempton Park to ITV in the 70's but then ITV abandoned everything virtually overnight in the 80's. Channel 4's superior coverage and commitment in the 80's and 90's left the 大象传媒 hanging on, and they couldn't even be bothered to fight for Cheltenham. In 1999 the 大象传媒 gave evidence to the Commons Select Committee that it would continue to fight for Sports Rights-Goodwood was an example. Ironically the 大象传媒 has dramatically improved its traditionally lousy racing coverage to match the standards of its output elsewhere and now is easily better than Channel 4's coverage. It made sense that the 大象传媒 should concentrate on fewer racecourses but we have now gone beneath any sensible minimum. Despite the 1999 promise we seem to have returned to the gutless lack of fight of the Birt era.

  • 17.
  • At 01:29 PM on 09 Jul 2006,
  • Gary Ecclestone wrote:

I rather agree with John CB. My enthusiasm for racing was kindled by 大象传媒tv Grandstand as a child in the 1980s. At that stage live coverage included, Cheltenham, Ripon, Redcar, Wetherby, Lingfield, Newbury, Uttoxeter, Punchestown (remember that?!) etc all of which were slowly lost to Channel Four. What remains leaves racing itself greatly impoverished.

The 大象传媒 has always been able to deliver good audiences to racing and it has been healthy competition from Channel Four that finally led to the step change improvement in coverage led by the peerless Clare Balding, for which many have been very grateful. Leaving C4 as the only terrestrial outlet for regular televised racing is bad news for the racing industry and for sponsors too.

Given C4s shaky commitment to the sport in an uncertain financial environment, one can only asume that there is a very great danger that within a few years the last remaining racing trophies in the 大象传媒 sports rights cabinet will,in fact, be the only racing left for terrestrial viewers. Good news for racing? Public Service Commitment? Sadly, I think not.

With preparations being made for the demise of Grandstand as a vehicle for minority sports other sporting Governing Bodies must be looking anxiously to the future.

  • 18.
  • At 02:51 PM on 11 Jul 2006,
  • Terry Thomas wrote:

Dear Barbara Slater

Would you be good enough to answer this?

You say: "We remain committed to racing."

Could you please tell me how many days' horse racing coverage will there be on 大象传媒 TV next year?

And how does this compare to, say, 2001?

  • 19.
  • At 02:59 PM on 11 Jul 2006,
  • Jeremy Onslow wrote:

"We remain committed to racing...."

Really! You could have fooled me!

Racing takes place 364 days a year so please tell me how your woeful coverage shows that you are committed.

Take away the Aintree Festival and Royal Ascot, not much left is there?

It's a disgrace that you come out and say you are committed.

  • 20.
  • At 06:47 PM on 11 Jul 2006,
  • Troy wrote:

Judging by the coverage of Royal Ascot, what you actually mean is "we are committed to showing a couple of races with no decent preview of the horses in the paddock or on the course, in between a bunch of lovies poncing about talking about what everyone's wearing".

I want to see the horses in the paddock, going down to the start and hear about them. I really DO NOT CARE if there's some over weight chavette on a day out wearing "something that looks like it came from Asda".

  • 21.
  • At 09:44 PM on 13 Jul 2006,
  • Terry Thomas wrote:

The silence is deafening, Ms Slater

I thought the 大象传媒 was supposed to listen to its audiences

We only fund the service, after all

  • 22.
  • At 03:48 AM on 20 Jul 2006,
  • Mike wrote:

The 大象传媒 will still be showing Ascot, Aintree, Epsom, Haydock (for now divided with C4), Chepstow (first jumps meeting of the season and Welsh National and the Arc so it's not all that bad.

The Beeb may also get rights at major tracks covered by ATR such as Newcastle, Uttoxeter, Exeter and from next year Doncaster will be an ATR track so they could try and secure those. I sure hope so.

  • 23.
  • At 03:10 PM on 04 Aug 2006,
  • john wrote:

Maybe a stumbling block to C4 taking over Goodwood according to The Times. C4 want early starts to accomodate Countdown apparentley. Come on 大象传媒 do the Right thing and don't drop Haydock and take over some courses from Channel four. Do a seperate deal with Racing UK and Attheraces courses yourselves. And how about an answer Barbara

  • 24.
  • At 07:40 PM on 07 Aug 2006,
  • Alan wrote:

I might be wrong here, but I understood that, from 2006, Channel 4 no longer paid for its racing coverage, but actually received a sum of money from the Tote to screen racing. This would suggest that its commitment to racing was not exactly rock solid (they did, I believe, threaten to drop coverage altogether unless racing stumped up some cash, although perhaps that was just a very effective negotiating ploy).

If this is true, it is unlikely that any 大象传媒 courses are going to move if they get money for coverage whereas there is nothing on offer from C4. At the same time, it poses a dilemma for the 大象传媒 who presumably have to justify how it spends its money, and would have to say why they pay for horse racing when C4 doesn't.

Against this background, a "Crown Jewels" policy is not in itself so crazy, because the 大象传媒 could then demonstrate it was paying for the premium events. But this only works if racing was offering a package of all its Crown Jewels for cash while paying for the bread-and-butter coverage to be on C4. That situation doesn't seem to exist. For the 大象传媒 to operate a Crown Jewels policy with just the big races it owns makes no sense - it is providing neither year-round coverage of the sport or the big events either.

I agree with previous contributors: 大象传媒 racing coverage has improved immeasureably in the last few years and is now top-notch. It seems a lousy reward for Clare Balding and the team to reduce the opportunites to do what they do so well, and for the viewers to enjoy an informative programme without commercial interruption.

I can understand why the 大象传媒 wouldn't be able to accept a Tote deal like C4 to show racing, but is there not scope to offer more coverage to courses with only token rights fees to reduce the costs? The NH coverage last winter was very limited and I would definitely like to see an improvement there.

I understood that C4 were becoming less interested in the sport because they thought advertising revenue would be greater with other programmes than racing - presumably why they dropped a number of their weekday meetings. But the 大象传媒 ought to be above such pressures and when it does a job well, and which is appreciated by followers of the sport, it ought to be expanding not reducing its output.

  • 25.
  • At 01:49 PM on 09 Aug 2006,
  • Terry Thomas wrote:

Amazing - Barbara Slater comes on here on 1 July and 'justifies' the 大象传媒's 'coverage' of horse racing

Six weeks later, and she hasn't bothered to reply to one person


What is the point of this blog?

  • 26.
  • At 12:56 PM on 25 Aug 2006,
  • john wrote:

I saw some reports that the 大象传媒 were to keep Chepstow and Haydock. There may yet be hope that the 大象传媒 will keep goodwood. Of course by dropping Goodwood and Grandstand this all goes to help the 大象传媒 claim that there will be even more sport on the 大象传媒. When what they really mean is that we will show more wimbledon and more snooker etc on interactive and forget about the viewers. The 大象传媒 say that they have not got room for Goodwood: Why not They don't cover World or British Superbikes anymore British Touring Cars, Cricket, Formaula 1 , The Boat Race, and some other sports have seen their coverage decline in recent year like Showjumping.

  • 27.
  • At 07:12 PM on 25 Aug 2006,
  • Ginny Smith wrote:

The 大象传媒's poor coverage of racing extends to other equestrian sports - how many of us would know that there was a World Equestrian Games going on at Aachen at the time I post this, and that our team are well represented? How many major showjumping or eventing meetings are covered during the year? Riding is one of the most popular leisure activities in the UK, and generates an enormous interest in equestrian events .... So why do the terrestial channels seem so devoted to football, football, and yet more football?

  • 28.
  • At 06:58 PM on 27 Aug 2006,
  • john wrote:

Dear Barbara

It was a sad day for 大象传媒 Sport especially the racing team, as today the brilliant Claire Balding signed off on Grandstand and said goodebye to Goodwood for the foreseeable future. Yet still Barbara you have shown that you have no respect to the viewer, the people who pay in part your wages. You have not responded to one single comment posted on this blog. Maybe the 大象传媒 could save money and and get rid of these blogs as we the viewer seem to be wasting our and get no response from those people who are meant to be answerable to us in the long run. You have given no reason why the 大象传媒 can not offer year round coverage og Goodwood as today you have provided great coverage of the celebration mile. It just goes to prove that getting rid of Grandstand is a way of cutting back on sports coverage and concentrating on certain sports. I find it a disgrace that you have not bothered to reply.

  • 29.
  • At 08:27 PM on 31 Aug 2006,
  • Mike wrote:

To all those people knocking the 大象传媒s racing coverage.

Just look at all the action listed on the 大象传媒 over the next couple of months and you will see that all this moaning is totally pointless.

There is the Sprint Cup at Haydock this weekend, then the Ascot Festival, then The Arc, then another meeting at Ascot, then Chepstow for the start of their jumps season, two days at Aintree, the Silver Trophy at Chepstow, then finally Ascot starts its jumps season.

It's a busy period.

  • 30.
  • At 02:11 PM on 13 Sep 2006,
  • Doug wrote:

I think it is a splendid idea to have the main 36 programmes of 大象传媒 racing on 大象传媒1 and 2 and to then transmit other races from those meetings on Interactive or other 大象传媒 Channels.

Please 大象传媒 Sport; GO FOR IT!!!

大象传媒 Racing is a superb product lead by the superlative Claire Balding. As many races as possible should be shown even if it is on Interactive.

I trust the extras will be shown on Freeview as well where they will get the maximum exposure?

  • 31.
  • At 08:23 PM on 28 Sep 2006,
  • Clive wrote:

When the 大象传媒 show the Kempton meeting transfered from Epsom on Saturday 30th October, will it be be the first time the 大象传媒 has ever shown racing from Kempton.

  • 32.
  • At 08:10 PM on 29 Sep 2006,
  • wrote:

I ment 30th September

  • 33.
  • At 12:50 PM on 01 Oct 2006,
  • Alan wrote:

As Rishi Persad said when he introduced the Kempton coverage yesterday, the 大象传媒 hadn't been to Kempton since 1979. I can certainly remember the 大象传媒 covering Kempton.

The horse-trading that went on which resulted in Kempton going to ITV from 1980 is gone into in some detail in Peter O' Sullevan's autobiography, "Calling the Horses". Essentially, United acecourses, as Kempton, Epsom and Sandown were then, wanted one broadcaster. I wonder what difference it would have made to racing coverage had the contract gone the other way, as some apparently wanted.

By the way, everything seems to have gone quiet over Goodwood. Does anyone know if a final decision has been made, or whether there is still a chance we can enjoy the fixture on 大象传媒 with the best racing team?

  • 34.
  • At 08:08 PM on 06 Oct 2006,
  • Peter Smith wrote:

Have 大象传媒 actually lost shared rights to Haydock Park?

I notice they are now showing two races from Chepstow tomorrow instead of the one promised earlier.

I take it Uttoxeter has alos been lost to C4?

  • 35.
  • At 07:01 PM on 07 Oct 2006,
  • Clive wrote:

大象传媒 are showing the Betfair Chase according to Haydock's web site.

  • 36.
  • At 04:05 AM on 21 Nov 2006,
  • wrote:

Fantastic to see horse racing disappearing from 大象传媒 TV.
Are you clearing the deck for the return of Test cricket? I certainly hope so, and no more tedious interruptions from horse racing.
BRING TEST CRICKET HOME!

  • 37.
  • At 02:10 AM on 29 Nov 2006,
  • Fred wrote:

Would it be right for the 大象传媒 to keep hold of these rights at any price? No, of course not. Any more than it would be right for the 大象传媒 to try to outbid Sky for the Prem.

  • 38.
  • At 02:16 AM on 29 Nov 2006,
  • wrote:

Three years ago the the fixture list for racing was based upon the 大象传媒 showing double headers on Saturday, so what's with the change of policy?

Remember, racing is the second most popular sport attendance wise in this country. Also, this was bound to happen when the 大象传媒 decided to drop Grandstand early this year 'cos racing was a staple part of Grandstand through the years

  • 39.
  • At 05:10 PM on 24 Dec 2006,
  • peter smith wrote:

Not sure whts happened (possibly a rush of blood)but 大象传媒 are showing Kempton Park on the 27th as CH 4 are neglecting the place.

  • 40.
  • At 07:51 PM on 12 May 2007,
  • Clive wrote:

When racing resumes at Doncaster later this year will the 大象传媒 bid for live TV rights as a replacement for Goodwood.

At The Races will be showing the course from this year on wards and as the Beeb already cover Ascot and Chepstow (ATR tracks) wouldn't it be an idea to add Donny to that list.

I ask this because the only northern tracks you cover are Aintree and Haydock and it would be good to have a more countrywide range of courses.

You could try and get Newcastle too as the Eider Chase is a good Grand National trial.

Also can you respond to an earlier post about the prospect of showing the Galway festival as a replacement for Glorious Goodwood.

Post a comment

Please note Name and E-mail are required.

Comments are moderated, and will not appear on this weblog until the author has approved them. Please note that submitting a comment is not the same as making a formal complaint - see this page for more details.

Required
Required (not displayed)
 
    

The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of external internet sites