ARC and RMG unveil shared channels to deliver UK horseracing internationally
Five-year partnership will see British and Irish racecourses promoted globally as a single service
Arena Racing Company (ARC) and Racecourse Media Group (RMG) have announced the creation of shared channels to distribute UK horseracing internationally.
The five-year agreement will get under way from January 2024 and see content from both British and Irish racecourses promoted and commercialised in several international pari-mutuel (tote) markets as a single service.
This service will fall under the banner of GBI Racing (Great British and Irish racing) and will be revived after performing a similar function from 2010 to 2018.
The RMG has rights to 34 British racecourse shareholders including Cheltenham, Aintree and Haydock Park, while ARC has Doncaster, Uttoxeter and Ffos Las among the 16 racecourses on its books.
In addition, a number of fixed-odds territories will broadcast coverage from British racecourses and ARC’s Premier Greyhound Racing service. ARC’s production business, Vermantia, will provide broadcast services for both tote and fixed-odds channels.
Brendan Parnell, ARC managing director of media and international, said: “This partnership will offer British racing a unified export service, streamlined for our various international partners.
“Working with our colleagues at RMG, we look forward to offering and developing this efficient international platform to distribute and promote the sport around the world.”
Martin Stevenson, RMG CEO, added: “I am delighted that British racing, and Irish racing via the tote service, will be sold and promoted as one package.
“This will drive further value for our racecourses and provide a better product for our customers across the world. I look forward to working with Brendan and his team in creating this leading international service.”
Flutter UK & Ireland recently announced it will be sponsoring a six-part documentary series about British horseracing that will be released on ITV1 in 2024