BBC horse racing gg'd

[AndrewT]

Channel 4 have secured the rights to show all terrestrial racing, including the Derby, Grand National and Royal Ascot.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/19/channel-4-derby-grand-national-royal-ascot

It seems we will never be rid of this infernal McCririck - though may be comedy value in seeing him in top hat and tails at Royal Ascot.

[tikay]

Really surprised by this.

I was of the undersatanding that a select few "Trophy Events" (Grand National, Derby, Cup Final, Boat Race etc)  were "protected", & the PSB in the UK had the permanent right to them. This has changed, presumably?

[TightEnd]

Really surprised by this.

I was of the undersatanding that a select few "Trophy Events" (Grand National, Derby, Cup Final, Boat Race etc  were "protected", & the PSB in the UK had the permanent right to them. This has changed, presumably?

I thought this was the case too

Downside. McCririck

Upside. No more Carson.


(In general Ch4 do racing far better I think, on the BBC apart from the trophy events its often shoehorned into schedules here and there)

[AndrewT]

The 'crown jewels' are protected to terrestrial TV, not necessarily BBC.

Sky can't exclusively show the Grand National.

[AndrewT]

Will be interesting to see what happens to Clare Balding now - she's said she's 'not rushing into any decisions about her future'.

Will be difficult for her to stay at BBC after Olympics as the amount of sport they show declines, plus the fact she won't get a look in as main presenter at the one they do have (Wimbledon).

On the plus side, if she does go to Channel 4 then it may well be gg McCririck as she hates him with a passion.

[Chompy]

Yuh, Clare to CH4 and McCririck to finally be dumped is odds-on imo.

Be good to lose Carson, Cochrane, Statto, Parrott and Wiltshire tbh, even if it's only been for a few days a year.

[AndrewT]

Would be good to see the commentator move as well, just to have Jim McGrath talking to Jim McGrath.

[action man]

lydia hislop >>>>>>any other presenter, also like to see graham cunningham from ruk drafted in. Him and the shoe definately my fav pre race analysts.

[WarBwastard]

What will happen to that little chap who bitches about people's outfits?

[tikay]

What will happen to that little chap who bitches about people's outfits?

He gets humanely destroyed, one would hope.

[AndrewT]

What will happen to that little chap who bitches about people's outfits?

Willie Carson will probably get axed.

[AndrewT]

Royal Ascot could be laugh on Ch 4 - with the fashion and the adverts there may not be any time to show the racing.

[Acidmouse]

Glad the BBC will lose it, for so long they squeeze races in-between all sorts of sports and other programs its a joke.

[Graham C]

Have to admit, the amount of fashion crap they had for Royal Ascot last year was beyond annoying, hopefully that'll be cut down/out, on the downside at least the Beeb had HD.

[Ironside]

Have to admit, the amount of fashion crap they had for Royal Ascot last year was beyond annoying, hopefully that'll be cut down/out, on the downside at least the Beeb had HD.

channel 4 has HD