Flutter to sponsor horseracing documentary series on ITV in 2024
Six-part docuseries will focus on forthcoming jumps season and begin production in December 2023
Flutter UK & Ireland (UK&I) has announced it will be sponsoring a six-part documentary series about British horseracing on ITV1 that is set to air in 2024.
The docuseries will follow the upcoming 2023-24 jumps season and tell stories of the lives and journeys of both the horses and those involved in the sport at all levels.
It will be broadcast on a primetime slot on ITV1 and available on its streaming service, ITVX.
ITV-backed production company South Shore are producing the programme, with Flutter and Racecourse Media Group (RMG) supporting the project.
Flutter’s participation in the TV series is part of the operator’s work towards the ‘Do More’ pillar of its Positive Impact Plan. This pillar is part of the operator’s commitment to give back to the communities it is involved in with the set aim of improving the lives of 10 million people by 2030 through the power of sports and play.
Filming of the docuseries will begin in December 2023, with a view to release the show in late summer 2024.
Ian Brown, CEO at Flutter UK and &I, said: “We are delighted to announce the forthcoming horseracing documentary series in conjunction with ITV and RMG.
“This is an idea we’ve promoted for some time, and we are hugely excited to be bringing the inner story of horseracing and all the wonderful people who support it to a new and broader audience through a prime time slot on ITV1.
“In line with a key pillar of our Positive Impact Plan, this is also another great example of Flutter supporting the communities we operate within to ‘Do More’.
“We have long supported the horseracing industry, investing over £140m into UK racing in 2022 alone, and are committed to working together with all racing stakeholders to support and modernise this unique and enthralling sport through initiatives like this brilliant new series.”
Martin Stevenson, CEO at RMG, commented: “We firmly believe that a docuseries like this on a major channel can significantly help grow participation in the sport.
“We are very grateful to Flutter for its invaluable support in making the series possible and ITV’s wholehearted support. ITV has been a fantastic partner for racing, and this docuseries is further evidence of its commitment to the sport.”
Simon Daglish, deputy MD of commercial at ITV, added: “Racing drives an enormous amount of passion and excitement among ITV viewers, as we know from our unrivalled coverage.
“This new series is a fantastic chance to build on that excitement and bring this adrenaline-filled sport to a new audience. We are delighted to be working with the racing community to showcase racing in a way that has never been seen before.”