The Seven Network and Racing Victoria will launch a new free to air television channel devoted daily to Victorian thoroughbred racing.
The new channel – Racing.com – will be the only free to air channel on Australian television dedicated to broadcasting and promoting a single sport and will extend beyond broadcast television across all communication platforms to deliver horse racing to all Australians on any connected device.
The first day of Racing.com will be this Saturday with coverage of the Group 1 Memsie Stakes Day from Caulfield.
Bruce McAvaney will host this very first broadcast for Racing.com.
Racing.com today also confirmed CrownBet as its premium wagering partner for 2015 and 2016 and Ladbrokes as its Associate partner.
Details on Racing.com were announced today by Tim Worner, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Seven West Media, Lewis Martin, Managing Director of Channel Seven Melbourne, and David Moodie, Chairman of Racing Victoria.
Seven chief executive, Tim Worner said it was an important new partnership for our company.
"We are the home of horse racing on broadcast television and we are committing our company to building an increasing presence for horse racing in Victoria across our expanding presence in all forms of content delivery," he said.
"Our Racing.com partnership joins our portfolio of major sports and we are looking forward to working with Racing Victoria in ensuring the future growth and success of horse racing in this state.”
Racing Victoria chairman David Moodie said the launch of the free-to-air Racing.com channel made the sport available to more people in more places than ever before.
"It is the start of a new era for Victorian thoroughbred racing and one that provides us with a foundation for growth in engagement, participation, ownership, wagering and attendance," he said.
"Racing.com will showcase Victorian racing 363-days-a-year to well over 90 per cent of the Australian population. The industry’s partnership with Seven is a great result for racing fans, punters and participants and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our three Metropolitan Clubs and Country Racing Victoria for their support in achieving this.”
Seven is evolving an increasing presence in the sport as it advances plans for the delivery of a new content channel on its digital broadcast television platform.
The new joint venture – Racing.com – delivers a significant new platform for Seven and Racing Victoria as Seven continues to extend beyond broadcast television and publishing and expand its presence in the digital delivery of content and builds 1:1 direct engagement with its audiences.
Racing.com, which will broadcast race meetings from across Victoria 363 days a year, will provide the state’s thoroughbred racing industry with unprecedented and unrivalled free to air coverage.
The new partnership between Racing Victoria and the Seven Network to showcase Victorian thoroughbred racing nationally will also see the new, dedicated free-to-air channel integrated with a suite of streaming and digital services at Racing.com, where punters, fans and participants can view the broadcast on their mobile, tablet and desktop.
Channel Seven Melbourne Managing Director, Lewis Martin, said: “We are pleased to confirm that we have secured some terrific people for Racing.com and we are well-advanced in our plans to further expand our coverage of racing over the coming months.
"Channel Seven is looking forward to working closely with Racing.com in the promotion and marketing of this exciting new venture.”
Jason Richardson and Shane Anderson will join the channel as hosts as well and form analysts David Gately and Warren Huntly.
They will combine with former AFL footballer and racehorse owner Campbell Brown and Hong Kong-based form analyst Clint Hutchison.