Arena Racing Company (ARC) and Racecourse Media Group (RMG) are delighted to announce the creation of shared channels to distribute UK racing internationally.
The five-year partnership, which commences from January 2024, will mean that content from British and Irish racecourses will be promoted and commercialised in a range of international tote (pari-mutuel) markets as a single service. This new tote service will come under the banner of GBI Racing (Great British & Irish racing), which had served a similar function from 2010 to 2018.
Separately, a service for a range of fixed odds territories will broadcast coverage from British racecourses, plus ARC’s Premier Greyhound Racing service. The broadcast services for both tote and fixed odds channels will be provided by ARC’s production business, Vermantia.
The aligning of the rights of RMG (34 British racecourse shareholders, including Jockey Club racecourses, and York and Goodwood) and ARC (16 British racecourses), plus other independent racecourses, such as Ascot, Chester and Newbury will create new efficiencies and synergies, which will maximise returns to the sport. It will also enable British and Irish racing to be effectively marketed and promoted to international audiences.
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, said: “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.
“I would also very much like to thank SIS for the work they have done for our racecourses in this area over the last five years.”
