channel 4 racing - a "complete yawn"

[AndrewT]

I think racing needs to realise it is a niche sport now and it's heyday is long gone.  It is driven/financed by betting and 90% of casual punters under the age of 30 don't bet on racing anymore.  All about football/inplay/cashout etc etc.  Until they realise this shift they will keep finding excuses why the viewing figures are down when this is the real reason.  20 years ago if you wanted a bet you had to bet on racing pretty much and go to a betting shop to bet/watch it.  In 2015 that has all changed and racing hasn't moved with the new age.

When you think about it, what live sport gets as much air time on terrestrial TV as racing? Three hours every Saturday afternoon, plus the midweek festivals. The only one that could challenge it would be football and that's football.

Golf, cricket - both gone. F1 going. Rugby just the Six Nations and World Cup. Tennis not much outside of Wimbledon. Racing's actually doing quite well.

[The Camel]

I think racing needs to realise it is a niche sport now and it's heyday is long gone.  It is driven/financed by betting and 90% of casual punters under the age of 30 don't bet on racing anymore.  All about football/inplay/cashout etc etc.  Until they realise this shift they will keep finding excuses why the viewing figures are down when this is the real reason.  20 years ago if you wanted a bet you had to bet on racing pretty much and go to a betting shop to bet/watch it.  In 2015 that has all changed and racing hasn't moved with the new age.

When you think about it, what live sport gets as much air time on terrestrial TV as racing? Three hours every Saturday afternoon, plus the midweek festivals. The only one that could challenge it would be football and that's football.

Golf, cricket - both gone. F1 going. Rugby just the Six Nations and World Cup. Tennis not much outside of Wimbledon. Racing's actually doing quite well.

Isn't that because racing (ie bookmakers) pays CH4 to show it?

If they didn't it would down to Royal Ascot, Cheltenham, Aintree, the Derby and maybe York, Kempton at Xmas and Goodwood.

Which is just about all the regular sports fans might be interested in.

[TightEnd]

it seems Mr QIPCO wants less focus on betting and more on "characters", the stables, the breeding etc etc

is there really an audience for that?

i guess the betting audience, betting these days more on mobile and tablet and at home on a saturday afternoon looking for quick fixes and cash outs and steamers etc etc are diametrically opposite to what Mr QIPCO thinks makes a good programme

do many people watch who don't bet and watch because of the love of the sport, do we think? i don't get that impression, i think that segment of the audience has shrunk a lot

[arbboy]

I think racing needs to realise it is a niche sport now and it's heyday is long gone.  It is driven/financed by betting and 90% of casual punters under the age of 30 don't bet on racing anymore.  All about football/inplay/cashout etc etc.  Until they realise this shift they will keep finding excuses why the viewing figures are down when this is the real reason.  20 years ago if you wanted a bet you had to bet on racing pretty much and go to a betting shop to bet/watch it.  In 2015 that has all changed and racing hasn't moved with the new age.

When you think about it, what live sport gets as much air time on terrestrial TV as racing? Three hours every Saturday afternoon, plus the midweek festivals. The only one that could challenge it would be football and that's football.

Golf, cricket - both gone. F1 going. Rugby just the Six Nations and World Cup. Tennis not much outside of Wimbledon. Racing's actually doing quite well.

Isn't that because racing (ie bookmakers) pays CH4 to show it?

If they didn't it would down to Royal Ascot, Cheltenham, Aintree, the Derby and maybe York, Kempton at Xmas and Goodwood.

Which is just about all the regular sports fans might be interested in.

The main reason that is the case is because no tv companies are queuing up to pay for the rights like sky do for tennis/football/darts because no one wants to watch racing any more.  That is the reality of the situation (plus there are two specialist racing channels available as well to most people should they want them).  Also anyone who bets on a race now can watch it free on their phone/machine with their betting company.

[Horneris]

Had a similar conversation with someone at work the other day during "tipstar" about the new generation of racing uk presenters.

Yes they know their stuff but the entertainment and banter has all but disappeared.

Its similar to poker for me, I used to love High Stakes Poker with AJ Benza and Gabe Kaplan presenting but lost all interest in televised poker when they were all replaced by young clones talking about ICM in their monotone American voices.

[AlunB]

it seems Mr QIPCO wants less focus on betting and more on "characters", the stables, the breeding etc etc

is there really an audience for that?

i guess the betting audience, betting these days more on mobile and tablet and at home on a saturday afternoon looking for quick fixes and cash outs and steamers etc etc are diametrically opposite to what Mr QIPCO thinks makes a good programme

do many people watch who don't bet and watch because of the love of the sport, do we think? i don't get that impression, i think that segment of the audience has shrunk a lot

I've met one person my entire life who actually loved racing for racing. He now works for the Racing Post. Well maybe two at a push, but the other one wrote horse racing articles for me at Inside Edge.

[doubleup]

An interesting experiment imo would be one free channel (satellite and online), financed by the betting industry that simply showed racing, splitting screens where necessary.  Obv one guy basically telling whats going on but no other "added value"  Bookies ads between racing and promos in the morning ok.

I'd be surprised if this didn't result in a considerable increase in betting turnover.

[The Camel]

it seems Mr QIPCO wants less focus on betting and more on "characters", the stables, the breeding etc etc

is there really an audience for that?

i guess the betting audience, betting these days more on mobile and tablet and at home on a saturday afternoon looking for quick fixes and cash outs and steamers etc etc are diametrically opposite to what Mr QIPCO thinks makes a good programme

do many people watch who don't bet and watch because of the love of the sport, do we think? i don't get that impression, i think that segment of the audience has shrunk a lot

I've met one person my entire life who actually loved racing for racing. He now works for the Racing Post. Well maybe two at a push, but the other one wrote horse racing articles for me at Inside Edge.

You were at Inside Edge? I never knew that.

That was a quality magazine, you should be proud of working on that.

Do you know Dave Thomas?

[The Camel]

Ooo Dave Thomas might have worked on Odds On, a similar magazine but a few years previous.

[AlunB]

it seems Mr QIPCO wants less focus on betting and more on "characters", the stables, the breeding etc etc

is there really an audience for that?

i guess the betting audience, betting these days more on mobile and tablet and at home on a saturday afternoon looking for quick fixes and cash outs and steamers etc etc are diametrically opposite to what Mr QIPCO thinks makes a good programme

do many people watch who don't bet and watch because of the love of the sport, do we think? i don't get that impression, i think that segment of the audience has shrunk a lot

I've met one person my entire life who actually loved racing for racing. He now works for the Racing Post. Well maybe two at a push, but the other one wrote horse racing articles for me at Inside Edge.

You were at Inside Edge? I never knew that.

That was a quality magazine, you should be proud of working on that.

Do you know Dave Thomas?

Can't say that I do, no. We had a right character called Dave Fowler writing for us. He's a hard man to forget.

Indeed I was. I was the man that "ruined" it. Man did the betfair forum hate us back then. Was ridiculous.

[Tal]

Arbboy, do a subscription for a Twitch stream where you go to the channel four racing venue each Saturday and wander around the Tatts, giving your assessment of what's going on.

You won't need to work again.

"Look at these lol punters - 4/1 with Hills and 6.2 on the machine!"

"This so called bookie says he will take £300 each way on the jolly when you're rinsing him on the place price. WTF is he paying the bloke round the back on his laptop to do?!"

As for Francome and Co, I used to think they were great until Cunningham showed up and started explaining things before they happened on telly.

[AlunB]

it seems Mr QIPCO wants less focus on betting and more on "characters", the stables, the breeding etc etc

is there really an audience for that?

i guess the betting audience, betting these days more on mobile and tablet and at home on a saturday afternoon looking for quick fixes and cash outs and steamers etc etc are diametrically opposite to what Mr QIPCO thinks makes a good programme

do many people watch who don't bet and watch because of the love of the sport, do we think? i don't get that impression, i think that segment of the audience has shrunk a lot

I've met one person my entire life who actually loved racing for racing. He now works for the Racing Post. Well maybe two at a push, but the other one wrote horse racing articles for me at Inside Edge.

You were at Inside Edge? I never knew that.

That was a quality magazine, you should be proud of working on that.

Do you know Dave Thomas?

Thank you btw. Honestly every single person who worked on the editorial for that mag truly loved sports and gambling and I hope it showed. We all loved working on it and it was truly a sad day when market forces killed it.

[The Camel]

Arbboy, do a subscription for a Twitch stream where you go to the channel four racing venue each Saturday and wander around the Tatts, giving your assessment of what's going on.

You won't need to work again.

"Look at these lol punters - 4/1 with Hills and 6.2 on the machine!"

"This so called bookie says he will take £300 each way on the jolly when you're rinsing him on the place price. WTF is he paying the bloke round the back on his laptop to do?!"

As for Francome and Co, I used to think they were great until Cunningham showed up and started explaining things before they happened on telly.

Would subscribe.

[simonnatur]

Arbboy, do a subscription for a Twitch stream where you go to the channel four racing venue each Saturday and wander around the Tatts, giving your assessment of what's going on.

You won't need to work again.

"Look at these lol punters - 4/1 with Hills and 6.2 on the machine!"

"This so called bookie says he will take £300 each way on the jolly when you're rinsing him on the place price. WTF is he paying the bloke round the back on his laptop to do?!"

As for Francome and Co, I used to think they were great until Cunningham showed up and started explaining things before they happened on telly.

Would subscribe.

+1 Especially if we get treated to some quality #SouthernersPissingAwayLOLHousePriceEquity Rants after a good lunch.

Camel,  Do you include Mick Fitz in your panning of ex jocks as presenters? - always thought he was ok on ATR

[The Camel]

Arbboy, do a subscription for a Twitch stream where you go to the channel four racing venue each Saturday and wander around the Tatts, giving your assessment of what's going on.

You won't need to work again.

"Look at these lol punters - 4/1 with Hills and 6.2 on the machine!"

"This so called bookie says he will take £300 each way on the jolly when you're rinsing him on the place price. WTF is he paying the bloke round the back on his laptop to do?!"

As for Francome and Co, I used to think they were great until Cunningham showed up and started explaining things before they happened on telly.

Would subscribe.

+1 Especially if we get treated to some quality #SouthernersPissingAwayLOLHousePriceEquity Rants after a good lunch.

Camel,  Do you include Mick Fitz in your panning of ex jocks as presenters? - always thought he was ok on ATR

Absolutely would.

No matter how bad a ride a jockey has given a horse, Fitzgerald always finds some way of not blaming the pilot.

It's getting to be almost comical the excuses he finds for inept jockeyship.