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19 Mar 12
02:34
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05 Jan 10
By Marcus Townend, 19 March 2012
The BBC's dwindling portfolio of live sports rights has taken another massive hit with confirmation that the iconic Royal Ascot, Derby and Grand National meetings will switch to C4 from next year.
Despite the BBC reducing the volume of its horseracing coverage, the biggest race meetings of the season have remained among the jewels in its sporting crown alongside Wimbledon, The Open Golf and Six Nations.
Their loss will hit the BBC particularly hard in the post-London Olympic era.
Loyal viewers, especially those brought up listening to the mellifluous commentaries of Sir Peter O'Sullevan, the man dubbed the voice of racing, will be horrified that, like Test cricket, the BBC's involvement in live horseracing, stretching back over 60 years, is to be consigned to history.
Racemail understands the key to the four-year deal, believed to be worth over £20million, was an assurance from C4 that the integrity of the Royal meeting in June would not be compromised.
The Queen's favourite fixture remains the only race meeting in which no sponsor can add its name to the most famous races.
Yet in 2013, C4 will intersperse coverage with regular advertisement breaks.
A source said: 'C4 were forced to give assurances to Ascot that the integrity of the Royal meeting will be protected. That was the difficult one. They were more wedded to the BBC than anyone else.'
The sport has subsidised C4 to broadcast racing in recent seasons, to ensure its bread and butter fixtures maintained a foothold on a terrestrial platform.
It has shown 180 days a year with last week's Cheltenham Festival at its heart.
But racing, dramatically enhanced by horses like Kauto Star and Frankel, is now much more commercially attractive for broadcasters since bookmakers have been allowed to advertise.
The risk, particularly for next month's Grand National which was first shown on the BBC in 1960 and last year attracted 8.5million viewers, the biggest annual audience for racing, is that the switch to C4 could hit its profile.
It was the subsequent BBC-driven publicity for AP McCoy after his 2010 Grand National victory on Don't Push It that enabled him to be the first jockey to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
In the light of C4's error-strewn coverage of last year's World Athletics Championships, there will be some nervousness, but its 28-year association with the sport does offer firm foundations upon which to build.
Both fears were dismissed by Professor Simon Chadwick, Director of the Centre for the International Business of Sport (CIBS), who said: 'This is a significant coup both for horse racing and for C4.
'Continued coverage of the sport on terrestrial television will ensure that horse racing is prominent in the minds of fans and viewers alike, something that is especially important in an increasingly crowded market for sport.
'Moreover, the length of the deal will provide a strong platform for horse racing to move forward to build profile and presence with the broad, but also young audience that Channel 4 attracts.'
C4 is expected to revamp its coverage and has promised to 'creatively enhance production values'.
The channel is understood to be keen to lure BBC racing anchor Clare Balding to its team. She will present the Paralympics on C4 later this year.
Jamie Aitchison, C4's Sports Editor, said: 'This is an opportunity for us to work together to grow the sport, painting the full picture of both the Flat and Jumps seasons to attract new viewers whilst rewarding those loyal viewers we value so highly.'
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘The BBC are proud of their long heritage of broadcasting horse racing and did put in as competitive a bid as possible in the current climate.
'We are of course disappointed that we have lost the rights, but we are pleased that all the races in the contract remain free to air.
‘We of course still look forward to broadcasting the Grand National next month and then of course the Derby and Royal Ascot which have special significance in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/article-2116775/Last-Grand-National-BBC.html#ixzz1pWQZsJmi
The BBC's dwindling portfolio of live sports rights has taken another massive hit with confirmation that the iconic Royal Ascot, Derby and Grand National meetings will switch to C4 from next year.
Despite the BBC reducing the volume of its horseracing coverage, the biggest race meetings of the season have remained among the jewels in its sporting crown alongside Wimbledon, The Open Golf and Six Nations.
Their loss will hit the BBC particularly hard in the post-London Olympic era.
Loyal viewers, especially those brought up listening to the mellifluous commentaries of Sir Peter O'Sullevan, the man dubbed the voice of racing, will be horrified that, like Test cricket, the BBC's involvement in live horseracing, stretching back over 60 years, is to be consigned to history.
Racemail understands the key to the four-year deal, believed to be worth over £20million, was an assurance from C4 that the integrity of the Royal meeting in June would not be compromised.
The Queen's favourite fixture remains the only race meeting in which no sponsor can add its name to the most famous races.
Yet in 2013, C4 will intersperse coverage with regular advertisement breaks.
A source said: 'C4 were forced to give assurances to Ascot that the integrity of the Royal meeting will be protected. That was the difficult one. They were more wedded to the BBC than anyone else.'
The sport has subsidised C4 to broadcast racing in recent seasons, to ensure its bread and butter fixtures maintained a foothold on a terrestrial platform.
It has shown 180 days a year with last week's Cheltenham Festival at its heart.
But racing, dramatically enhanced by horses like Kauto Star and Frankel, is now much more commercially attractive for broadcasters since bookmakers have been allowed to advertise.
The risk, particularly for next month's Grand National which was first shown on the BBC in 1960 and last year attracted 8.5million viewers, the biggest annual audience for racing, is that the switch to C4 could hit its profile.
It was the subsequent BBC-driven publicity for AP McCoy after his 2010 Grand National victory on Don't Push It that enabled him to be the first jockey to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
In the light of C4's error-strewn coverage of last year's World Athletics Championships, there will be some nervousness, but its 28-year association with the sport does offer firm foundations upon which to build.
Both fears were dismissed by Professor Simon Chadwick, Director of the Centre for the International Business of Sport (CIBS), who said: 'This is a significant coup both for horse racing and for C4.
'Continued coverage of the sport on terrestrial television will ensure that horse racing is prominent in the minds of fans and viewers alike, something that is especially important in an increasingly crowded market for sport.
'Moreover, the length of the deal will provide a strong platform for horse racing to move forward to build profile and presence with the broad, but also young audience that Channel 4 attracts.'
C4 is expected to revamp its coverage and has promised to 'creatively enhance production values'.
The channel is understood to be keen to lure BBC racing anchor Clare Balding to its team. She will present the Paralympics on C4 later this year.
Jamie Aitchison, C4's Sports Editor, said: 'This is an opportunity for us to work together to grow the sport, painting the full picture of both the Flat and Jumps seasons to attract new viewers whilst rewarding those loyal viewers we value so highly.'
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘The BBC are proud of their long heritage of broadcasting horse racing and did put in as competitive a bid as possible in the current climate.
'We are of course disappointed that we have lost the rights, but we are pleased that all the races in the contract remain free to air.
‘We of course still look forward to broadcasting the Grand National next month and then of course the Derby and Royal Ascot which have special significance in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/article-2116775/Last-Grand-National-BBC.html#ixzz1pWQZsJmi
Show More
The channel is understood to be keen to lure BBC racing anchor Clare Balding to its team.
Had to be a downside
Had to be a downside
i think it's bad for the national, wont get half the viewers on c4 but for racing generally it makes not difference at all
as long as they dont get Carson and Parrot on board i'll be a happy chappy
Why will the National ... "wont get half the viewers on c4."?
Do you think people simply sit in front of their televisions - and just watch the channel that they first started on all day?
Some probably do ....................... If they cannot find the remote.
Do you think people simply sit in front of their televisions - and just watch the channel that they first started on all day?
Some probably do ....................... If they cannot find the remote.
i don't understand it but that's the way it is, sports get a lot more viewers on bbc1
ah for the great days of royal ascot, wilson, rock, o,sullivan,lindley,pollard
, piggott, cecil, vincent, the old stand , arcadian heights 25/1, shavian 12/1, piccolo 33/1,
, piggott, cecil, vincent, the old stand , arcadian heights 25/1, shavian 12/1, piccolo 33/1,
In general terms it has to be good news, given the poor quality of the coverage on BBC.
My main concern with C4 is that it seems to be slowly moving down the BBC route, by including sentimental garbage and irrelevancies. Let's focus on the racing, the form, the horses, owners and trainers. There is plenty of scope to add new features, but hopefully they will dump the reading of poetry and the overkill of talking about one horse in the big races, almost to the exclusion of everything else. The objective of attracting new people to the sport is a worthy one, but faces big challenges - particularly for jump racing. Who can forget the BBC One show in its infancy doing a long running feature of a horse on the build up to the National (McKelvey), only for it to receive fatal injuries in the race. All of us who know racing are aware of what can happen, but families watching this sort of stuff are potentially put off racing forever. So, all in all. it is necessary to focus on the racing as a whole, the form, the betting etc and don't make the mistake of trying to turn every big race into some Seabuscuitesque story. I hope C4 steer away from what I thought was exclusively a BBC track, but unfortunately I fear the worst.
My main concern with C4 is that it seems to be slowly moving down the BBC route, by including sentimental garbage and irrelevancies. Let's focus on the racing, the form, the horses, owners and trainers. There is plenty of scope to add new features, but hopefully they will dump the reading of poetry and the overkill of talking about one horse in the big races, almost to the exclusion of everything else. The objective of attracting new people to the sport is a worthy one, but faces big challenges - particularly for jump racing. Who can forget the BBC One show in its infancy doing a long running feature of a horse on the build up to the National (McKelvey), only for it to receive fatal injuries in the race. All of us who know racing are aware of what can happen, but families watching this sort of stuff are potentially put off racing forever. So, all in all. it is necessary to focus on the racing as a whole, the form, the betting etc and don't make the mistake of trying to turn every big race into some Seabuscuitesque story. I hope C4 steer away from what I thought was exclusively a BBC track, but unfortunately I fear the worst.
Losing the BBC is a calamity for racing.
I'm sure the coverage of the Grand National or Derby will survive but Channel Four cannot run the trailers either side of Eastenders that put these iconic races in front of the non-racing public.
I'm sure the coverage of the Grand National or Derby will survive but Channel Four cannot run the trailers either side of Eastenders that put these iconic races in front of the non-racing public.
Clare Balding would a good addition especially as it would mean the end of the useless Ms Graham and we would see less of Thompson and the fat oaf.
khyber kim 19 Mar 12 08:49
Clare Balding would a good addition especially as it would mean the end of the useless Ms Graham and we would see less of Thompson and the fat oaf.
I agree, she is world class television presenter much like Nick Luck and if it meant the end of Graham & Thompson then that's fine by me.
Clare Balding would a good addition especially as it would mean the end of the useless Ms Graham and we would see less of Thompson and the fat oaf.
I agree, she is world class television presenter much like Nick Luck and if it meant the end of Graham & Thompson then that's fine by me.
Anything that sees the end of the Parrot/Wiltshire combo has to be embraced.
Sad for Clare but she has other interests anyway.
Sad for Clare but she has other interests anyway.
A source said: 'C4 were forced to give assurances to Ascot that the integrity of the Royal meeting will be protected.
All the issues facing racing, we have crap like this.
All the issues facing racing, we have crap like this.
BBC made a big deal about reporting casualties last week at Cheltenham. I can see them making a bigger deal of it now
What happens in regards to the Arc meeting.Will Channel 4 take over the coverage of this event ???
Must be a good opportunity for C4 to purge some of their team - Graham, Thompson,Down,McCririck well past sell by date.
But does that mean BBC will still have the rights to show the slowmo highlights at 12:05 o´clock in the morning, like they do with the F1.
Coverage schmoverage.
Pretty indifferent really as to who covers it and C4 have at least got some passion for the sport, unlike the BBC, for which racing has been merely tolerated for many years now (decreasing coverage of meetings, no results given on radio during sports bulletins etc)
I would question the firt 'B' in BBC though, given horse racing is the most popular (by attendance, never mind betting shop patronage) sport in the country (cue irate posts from the fishing lobby) and, I would argue, the most egalitarian in terms of socio-economics.
Still, as long as the petrolheads are catered for, eh?
Pretty indifferent really as to who covers it and C4 have at least got some passion for the sport, unlike the BBC, for which racing has been merely tolerated for many years now (decreasing coverage of meetings, no results given on radio during sports bulletins etc)
I would question the firt 'B' in BBC though, given horse racing is the most popular (by attendance, never mind betting shop patronage) sport in the country (cue irate posts from the fishing lobby) and, I would argue, the most egalitarian in terms of socio-economics.
Still, as long as the petrolheads are catered for, eh?
bbc letting sport down again time to end spoty they dont show any sport anymore
I'm glad that these big race meetings will still be free to view on TV,
and C4 do have a passion for racing, the only 2 things about C4 racing
is all those bloody adverts, and maybe a couple of the team
have reached their sell-by date, like Thompson and Graham.
and C4 do have a passion for racing, the only 2 things about C4 racing
is all those bloody adverts, and maybe a couple of the team
have reached their sell-by date, like Thompson and Graham.
Just as well AP got his Sports Personality award in two years ago - wouldn't have a hope in hell now.
It's a bit ironic now that the BBC show SPOTY considering they virtually show no sport now.
chrisg
19 Mar 12 11:01
Must be a good opportunity for C4 to purge some of their team - Graham, Thompson,Down,McCririck well past sell by date.
...and add to that list Plunkett, Tom Lee, Emma, Francome, Tanya, in fact this is their best opportunity for the long-overdue clear out. Dread the thought of Thompson larking about in Bechers Brook on National day.
19 Mar 12 11:01
Must be a good opportunity for C4 to purge some of their team - Graham, Thompson,Down,McCririck well past sell by date.
...and add to that list Plunkett, Tom Lee, Emma, Francome, Tanya, in fact this is their best opportunity for the long-overdue clear out. Dread the thought of Thompson larking about in Bechers Brook on National day.
SPOTY is increasingly becoming a non event, not because of any lack of achievement, but due to the BBCs general lack of interest in sport throughout the year.
The achievements of those involved in sport are rightly regularly celebrated on a day to day basis by the channels that show most of it (SKY) and to a lesser extent C4.
The achievements of those involved in sport are rightly regularly celebrated on a day to day basis by the channels that show most of it (SKY) and to a lesser extent C4.
SPOTY is increasingly becoming a non event, not because of any lack of achievement, but due to the BBCs general lack of interest in sport throughout the year.
The achievements of those involved in sport are rightly regularly celebrated on a day to day basis by the channels that show most of it (SKY) and to a lesser extent C4.
The achievements of those involved in sport are rightly regularly celebrated on a day to day basis by the channels that show most of it (SKY) and to a lesser extent C4.
Thommo will want to remember where he is when he goes sticking his mic under some of the public's nose they're not exactly a Royal Ascot crowd ..issit
thompson and mccririck have ruined atr royal ascot coverage for years hopefully they ruin c4 coverage instead so at least the atr stuff will be almost bearable
I understand that terrestrial coverage helps to make a sport popular, but the BBC have dumbed down everything they cover for the last 10 years (Greg **** was the chief culprit) and any serious sports fan surely watches Sky, RUK, ATR etc. Channel 4 are OK when Big Mac is absent from the team but I still prefer RUK when they cover the same card.
Thommo at Aintree 'Ladies' Day would threaten cringeworthy records!
nobody mentioned the best thing of the bbc losing tv coverage,
NO MORE CROC.
NO MORE CROC.
While glad that the bigger meeting remain on terrestrial TV, the BBC should hang its head in shame.
Not willing to pay the going rate for sporting jewels like Royal Ascot, Grand National and the Derby but willing to throw crazy money at the likes of Richard Hammond, James May and Dermot O'Leary....
The country's f**ked right enough.
Not willing to pay the going rate for sporting jewels like Royal Ascot, Grand National and the Derby but willing to throw crazy money at the likes of Richard Hammond, James May and Dermot O'Leary....
The country's f**ked right enough.
Cattermole in his top hat & tails doing his lame James Bond impressions at Royal Ascot 
YouTube Clip - John McCririck - Bill Grundy
This is what can happen with Big Mac at Royal Ascot
in front the camera live on TV:
"F@CKING FORGOT THE HORSES NAME !!!"
This is what can happen with Big Mac at Royal Ascot
in front the camera live on TV:
"F@CKING FORGOT THE HORSES NAME !!!"
why are the bbc so interested in F1 these days?
it's fu kc ing sh it
it's fu kc ing sh it
This is the best thing for racing, BBC have been letting us down for years and they made a complete shambles of last years National. What I don't understand is how they can let something that draws in 8 million viewers and yet keep other sports that will not draw anywhere near that. Hopefully c4 can take it seriously and have a good clearout.
They're prepared to spend millions on Formula 1 for highlights mostly but can't put their hands in their pockets for some of the greatest sporting fare this country produces.
In terms of the history, it is a shame but most definitely for the best given the huge slide in the quality of the BBC's coverage in recent years. Re: Ascot and Aintree, C4 please note we want to see horses not clothes and tarts. Thank you.
channel4 saved saturday racing
i welcome them getting the grand national
bbc couldnt give a flying foook about horse racing anymore
look at the bbc golf--masters---only sat/sun----highlights-thurs/fri
if bbc lose the open golf---im starting a e-petition---no decent sport--stop licence fee
i welcome them getting the grand national
bbc couldnt give a flying foook about horse racing anymore
look at the bbc golf--masters---only sat/sun----highlights-thurs/fri
if bbc lose the open golf---im starting a e-petition---no decent sport--stop licence fee
Can someone confirm that they will also cover the other meetings that BBC covered like Arc day. Also was Chester and Glorious Goodwood BBC? I genuinely don't remember but will we still see these on Channel 4 though?
I agree with someone that mentioned the adverts for the Grand National and Derby that you'd see between programmes building up to the event. Hopefully they'll do something similar on Channel 4 although they won't get paid for it!
I prefer the entire BBC crew except Willie (who doesn't remember horses names and goes off point), Darley, Balding, Persad. I also like the way they show you how the race panned out afterwards, that was always good.
I agree with someone that mentioned the adverts for the Grand National and Derby that you'd see between programmes building up to the event. Hopefully they'll do something similar on Channel 4 although they won't get paid for it!
I prefer the entire BBC crew except Willie (who doesn't remember horses names and goes off point), Darley, Balding, Persad. I also like the way they show you how the race panned out afterwards, that was always good.
Who will the commentator team be? Will we have the dread blimp? Will they delay the National by a couple of seconds so they can edit it as it goes along?. Will Big Mac lose his rag at some of the chavs in their postages stamp size mini-skirts, 12 inch heels and fake tan streaking down their face and larger spilling out of their bottles over him?. Will Thommo be told by the same chavs "Oi you get that furry thing out of my face or ourone will give yous a right hook like" ?.
pllecornu1982 -
Blimey - Where have you been - SINCE - the BBC covered Chester and Glorious Goodwood?
Blimey - Where have you been - SINCE - the BBC covered Chester and Glorious Goodwood?
http://www.britishhorseracing.com
BBC racing anchor Clare Balding will not be "rushing into any decisions" after the corporation relinquished all of their live televised interest in the sport.
Channel 4 is to show all terrestrial racing from 2013, including the Grand National, Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby, in a contract that is due to last for at least four years.
Balding has, in recent years, become synonymous with BBC racing but has already been linked with a possible transfer to Channel 4 when the broadcaster assumes televised autonomy of the sport, and although disappointed by the news, Balding, who works for the BBC in a freelance capacity, said on Twitter she would not be making any hasty decisions.
She said: "Desperately sad that BBC TV has lost all rights to cover horse racing. I've worked with some wonderful & talented folk over the last 16 yrs.
"I am immensely proud of everything we have done on BBC TV & of the team I have worked with at BBC Sport. I've given it my life & soul. I'm not rushing into any decisions about what I will do in the future. 2012 is a busy enough year to keep me on my toes & then we'll see."
Willie Carson has been Balding's co-presenter on BBC racing for many years and the five-times champion Flat jockey was saddened by the news.
He said: "The BBC have been involved in racing since the year dot. BBC is a national broadcaster throughout the world - unfortunately racing is going to lose. BBC giving up racing is sad."
Sir Peter O'Sullevan was the BBC's racing commentator for 50 years until his retirement in 1997.
He was dubbed the "voice of racing", and described the loss of the channel's coverage of the sport as a "sad development".
He said: "It's very poor. It's been on the cards for a while and the BBC's lack of enthusiasm has crystallised into this decision. I think it is very regrettable for a national broadcaster to want to opt out of one of our traditional premier sports. It appears to me to be fairly unacceptable."
BBC racing anchor Clare Balding will not be "rushing into any decisions" after the corporation relinquished all of their live televised interest in the sport.
Channel 4 is to show all terrestrial racing from 2013, including the Grand National, Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby, in a contract that is due to last for at least four years.
Balding has, in recent years, become synonymous with BBC racing but has already been linked with a possible transfer to Channel 4 when the broadcaster assumes televised autonomy of the sport, and although disappointed by the news, Balding, who works for the BBC in a freelance capacity, said on Twitter she would not be making any hasty decisions.
She said: "Desperately sad that BBC TV has lost all rights to cover horse racing. I've worked with some wonderful & talented folk over the last 16 yrs.
"I am immensely proud of everything we have done on BBC TV & of the team I have worked with at BBC Sport. I've given it my life & soul. I'm not rushing into any decisions about what I will do in the future. 2012 is a busy enough year to keep me on my toes & then we'll see."
Willie Carson has been Balding's co-presenter on BBC racing for many years and the five-times champion Flat jockey was saddened by the news.
He said: "The BBC have been involved in racing since the year dot. BBC is a national broadcaster throughout the world - unfortunately racing is going to lose. BBC giving up racing is sad."
Sir Peter O'Sullevan was the BBC's racing commentator for 50 years until his retirement in 1997.
He was dubbed the "voice of racing", and described the loss of the channel's coverage of the sport as a "sad development".
He said: "It's very poor. It's been on the cards for a while and the BBC's lack of enthusiasm has crystallised into this decision. I think it is very regrettable for a national broadcaster to want to opt out of one of our traditional premier sports. It appears to me to be fairly unacceptable."
this year's aintree and royal ascot meetings are going to be dire on the bbc.....expect the chav presenters to be in their element at the national and we'll be lucky to see the races at ascot as they'll spend the whole time fawning over the fashionistas.Not something i'm looking forward to.
Director of BBC Sport, Barbara Slater, will be laughing her socks off!
Indeed - Pinhooker.
Somebody posted earlier ...
Randle 19 Mar 12 13:49
why are the bbc so interested in F1 these days?
---------------------------------
Barbara no doubt thinks that Lewis Hamilton having a girlfriend from The ****cat Dolls -
Will be worth more viewer ratings - than Frankel tearing up the turf at Royal Ascot.
Somebody posted earlier ...
Randle 19 Mar 12 13:49
why are the bbc so interested in F1 these days?
---------------------------------
Barbara no doubt thinks that Lewis Hamilton having a girlfriend from The ****cat Dolls -
Will be worth more viewer ratings - than Frankel tearing up the turf at Royal Ascot.
A major clash for sure Big Mac & Claire Balding
Clare Balding hints at leaving the BBC after they relinquish horse racing coverage to Channel 4
By J J Anisiobi http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz
PUBLISHED: 16:07 GMT, 19 March 2012
After 16 years as the BBC's top horse racing presenter, Clare Balding has suggested she may leave the corporation.
The 41-year-old has said she will not be 'rushing into any decisions' after the BBC decided not to continue their televised interest in the sport.
Channel 4, who use popular pundit John McCririck, will take over full coverage on terrestrial television from 2013.
Balding has become the person of choice for BBC horse racing, but hinted today via her Twitter account that she would have to move on to continue her work with the sport.
She said: 'Desperately sad that BBC TV has lost all rights to cover horse racing. I've worked with some wonderful & talented folk over the last 16 yrs.
'I am immensely proud of everything we have done on BBC TV & of the team I have worked with at BBC Sport. I've given it my life & soul. I'm not rushing into any decisions about what I will do in the future. 2012 is a busy enough year to keep me on my toes & then we'll see.'
Channel 4 have now signed a four year deal that will mean they get to show events including the Grand National, Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby, from next year.
Former champion jockey and BBC co-presenter Willie Carson said he was extremely sad to learn that the sport had been lost.
He said: 'The BBC have been involved in racing since the year dot. BBC is a national broadcaster throughout the world - unfortunately racing is going to lose. BBC giving up racing is sad.'
Sir Peter O'Sullevan, who was nicknamed the voice of racing, was the BBC's commentator for 50 years until he retired in 1997.
He described the loss of the channel's coverage of the sport as a 'sad development' for everyone concerned.
He said: 'It's very poor. It's been on the cards for a while and the BBC's lack of enthusiasm has crystallised into this decision.'
He added: 'I think it is very regrettable for a national broadcaster to want to opt out of one of our traditional premier sports. It appears to me to be fairly unacceptable.'
Channle 4's John McCririck has spoken glowingly about Balding and said that if he was to work with her, he would be very happy to.
He told the Mail Online: 'Clare is one of the great all round broadcasters that this country has ever produced.'
By J J Anisiobi http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz
PUBLISHED: 16:07 GMT, 19 March 2012
After 16 years as the BBC's top horse racing presenter, Clare Balding has suggested she may leave the corporation.
The 41-year-old has said she will not be 'rushing into any decisions' after the BBC decided not to continue their televised interest in the sport.
Channel 4, who use popular pundit John McCririck, will take over full coverage on terrestrial television from 2013.
Balding has become the person of choice for BBC horse racing, but hinted today via her Twitter account that she would have to move on to continue her work with the sport.
She said: 'Desperately sad that BBC TV has lost all rights to cover horse racing. I've worked with some wonderful & talented folk over the last 16 yrs.
'I am immensely proud of everything we have done on BBC TV & of the team I have worked with at BBC Sport. I've given it my life & soul. I'm not rushing into any decisions about what I will do in the future. 2012 is a busy enough year to keep me on my toes & then we'll see.'
Channel 4 have now signed a four year deal that will mean they get to show events including the Grand National, Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby, from next year.
Former champion jockey and BBC co-presenter Willie Carson said he was extremely sad to learn that the sport had been lost.
He said: 'The BBC have been involved in racing since the year dot. BBC is a national broadcaster throughout the world - unfortunately racing is going to lose. BBC giving up racing is sad.'
Sir Peter O'Sullevan, who was nicknamed the voice of racing, was the BBC's commentator for 50 years until he retired in 1997.
He described the loss of the channel's coverage of the sport as a 'sad development' for everyone concerned.
He said: 'It's very poor. It's been on the cards for a while and the BBC's lack of enthusiasm has crystallised into this decision.'
He added: 'I think it is very regrettable for a national broadcaster to want to opt out of one of our traditional premier sports. It appears to me to be fairly unacceptable.'
Channle 4's John McCririck has spoken glowingly about Balding and said that if he was to work with her, he would be very happy to.
He told the Mail Online: 'Clare is one of the great all round broadcasters that this country has ever produced.'
someone who looks like he buys his clothes from oxfam, and desperate dans sister
Poor decision. Channel 4 is, primarily, a commercial station that needs income from advertisers to maintain economic viability. If racing doesn't pull in the viewers does it then get reduced or pulled completely? Is racing still having to pay C4 to be televised as it's not clear? Thin edge of the wedge imo.
The BBC has been finished for years in sporting terms,nothing will change until the Liberal Lefties go!
Not enough ethnic people in racing for them to be interested
Good day for racing. No more nonsense from Carson,patronising interviews from Balding,incessant fashion spotting,the McCain/Red/Rum love in,tosh from a has been snooker player and a refusal to discuss anything related to betting.
C4....now learn. End the Nicholls crawling, the Kauto obsession,the poetic overlay,the atmospheric music.Present the racing.Show us the horses in the paddock.Give us more form,and intelligent betting updates.Good luck.
C4....now learn. End the Nicholls crawling, the Kauto obsession,the poetic overlay,the atmospheric music.Present the racing.Show us the horses in the paddock.Give us more form,and intelligent betting updates.Good luck.
Let's hope they finish off in a professional manner , great memories of years gone by ......and don't let the sandal wearing liberals with an agenda to poison joe public's perception of the sport dominate this years renewal, before passing the baton to Channel 4.
Don't be surprised if Animal Aid are co-presenters at Aintree..
Just one thought comes to mind ......
Hasn't the Grand National been taking place later in the afternoon well after 4 pm in recent times......what about that ridiculous cooking programme that they have too rush off for if the last race is 2 minutes late off .
Might they have too leave it as they go to Bechers second time round ?
Hasn't the Grand National been taking place later in the afternoon well after 4 pm in recent times......what about that ridiculous cooking programme that they have too rush off for if the last race is 2 minutes late off .
Might they have too leave it as they go to Bechers second time round ?
six..for years in wales we have missed the racing on s4c for the rugby ...once i was watching a race at sandown coming to the 2nd last and they finished coverage for the rugger...the sports head of s4c(former welsh internatinal) said he hated horse racing...always used to miss bank holiday sandown(temple stakes meeting) every year for the urdd eistedfod
Best news of the year for punters and racing.No more (hopefully) Kloor Badling ,Roughshod Persod et al...............just have to hope Aussie Jim doesnt get a gig.Between him and fat Al the bars would run dry.
Not that I am prejudiced against pis$ artists,definitely not.
Not that I am prejudiced against pis$ artists,definitely not.
Oh! i do hope James Sherwood and Suzi Perry are the fashion correspondents for Channel four at Royal Ascot...Though it'll probably Nike Cattermole & John Francome
I can remember pre Sky, when the Beeb started showing MOTD at 1205 am, .... apparently no interest in footy anywhere ......
The beeb is broke this move to Salford has back fired is costing them millions will be over a billion when added up. Who the hell wants to go there no one. The current chairman is leaving before the .... hits the fan. They are all a load of liberal chattering classes that have decimated a national asset. Any other business would love a guaranteed income that they have had for years from the licence fee.
C4 must ensure that the BBC do not have access to any coverage of racehorse casualties. The BBC coverage of last years National was ammunition for the Animal rights brigade. So please C4 shut them out completely.
C4 must ensure that the BBC do not have access to any coverage of racehorse casualties. The BBC coverage of last years National was ammunition for the Animal rights brigade. So please C4 shut them out completely.
We never had it so good in the 70's 
Boxing Day 1970 - Saturday 26th December 1970 - BBC-1 Television
9:45am Ken Dodd
9:55am News
10:00am Banana Splits
10:40pm The Son of Robin Hood (film) starring Al Hedison, June Laverick, David Farrar, Marius Goring
12noon-2:25pm Boxing Day Grandstand:
- Rugby League, Horse Racing from Kempton Park, Motor Racing from Lydden
2:25pm It's a Knockout: for the BBC Boxing Day Challenge Trophy: Great Britain v. Holland, from Leiden, Holland
3:15pm Donald Duck & Tom and Jerry
3:30pm Top of the Pops 70 (part 2)
4:15pm The Virginian: With Help from Ulysses
5:30pm News. Sports Results
5:45pm The Black and White Minstrel Christmas Show
6:30pm Dixon of Dock Green: The Lags' Brigade
7:15pm The Rolf Harris Show
8:05pm North West Frontier (film) Kenneth More, Lauren Bacall, Herbert Lom
10:10pm News
10:20pm Sinatra Sings at the Festival Hall
11:10pm Match of the Day
12midnight Weatherman
Boxing Day 1970 - Saturday 26th December 1970 - BBC-1 Television
9:45am Ken Dodd
9:55am News
10:00am Banana Splits
10:40pm The Son of Robin Hood (film) starring Al Hedison, June Laverick, David Farrar, Marius Goring
12noon-2:25pm Boxing Day Grandstand:
- Rugby League, Horse Racing from Kempton Park, Motor Racing from Lydden
2:25pm It's a Knockout: for the BBC Boxing Day Challenge Trophy: Great Britain v. Holland, from Leiden, Holland
3:15pm Donald Duck & Tom and Jerry
3:30pm Top of the Pops 70 (part 2)
4:15pm The Virginian: With Help from Ulysses
5:30pm News. Sports Results
5:45pm The Black and White Minstrel Christmas Show
6:30pm Dixon of Dock Green: The Lags' Brigade
7:15pm The Rolf Harris Show
8:05pm North West Frontier (film) Kenneth More, Lauren Bacall, Herbert Lom
10:10pm News
10:20pm Sinatra Sings at the Festival Hall
11:10pm Match of the Day
12midnight Weatherman
Even better on ITV 
Boxing Day 1970 - Saturday 26th December 1970 - ITV - London Weekend Television (LWT)
9:05am RAC Road Report
9:10am The Wind in the Willows
9:20am A Christmas Carol (b-w)
10:10am Stewpot
10:55am Tarzan and the Amazons (film) starring Johnny Weissmuller
12:15pm Shari's Show
12:45pm News
12:50-5:10pm World of Sport
5:10pm News
5:15pm The Beverly Hillbillies
5:45pm Pippa: film of Joy Adamson's cheetah
6:45pm Holiday Startime
8:00pm Petula: Petula Clark
9:00pm It's Tarbuck
9:30pm News
9:45pm The Hound of the Baskervilles (film) starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee
11:15pm Aquarius
12:00pm Church and Fashion
Boxing Day 1970 - Saturday 26th December 1970 - ITV - London Weekend Television (LWT)
9:05am RAC Road Report
9:10am The Wind in the Willows
9:20am A Christmas Carol (b-w)
10:10am Stewpot
10:55am Tarzan and the Amazons (film) starring Johnny Weissmuller
12:15pm Shari's Show
12:45pm News
12:50-5:10pm World of Sport
5:10pm News
5:15pm The Beverly Hillbillies
5:45pm Pippa: film of Joy Adamson's cheetah
6:45pm Holiday Startime
8:00pm Petula: Petula Clark
9:00pm It's Tarbuck
9:30pm News
9:45pm The Hound of the Baskervilles (film) starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee
11:15pm Aquarius
12:00pm Church and Fashion
It's an odds-on certainty that the BBC will never broadcast racing again
It was unquestionably the saddest day in my 40-year career as a racing commentator when I received the phone call telling me that the BBC had lost racing’s crown jewels in a Channel 4 coup this week and was pulling out of racing.
By J A McGrath TELEGRAPH.CO.UK 9:33PM GMT 19 Mar 2012
I have called races in 16 countries, holding down long-term contracts in four, yet when I was appointed successor to Sir Peter O’Sullevan as the BBC’s senior commentator in 1997, I saw it as the pinnacle in a specialised area of broadcasting. I was proud to have been selected.
The history and tradition that came with the job were impressive. So were the people working in BBC Sport. They were knowledgable, passionate and perceptive, and they also understood their audience.
But times change quickly, and so do leaders. Somewhere along the line, in the past five years, the BBC lost touch with their viewers. Despite horse racing being the second most popular sport for attendances in Britain, and a way of community life that forms part of the fabric of this country, those at the top of BBC Sport chose to ignore that fact.
Personal preference overtook editorial judgment as they hid behind viewing figures on racing that were applauded by many internally whenever they took on a negative slant. History will show that although key figures in the BBC had no appetite for racing, several times racing did not appear to want to help itself, either. Back in 2006 Ascot were set to sign a lucrative long-term deal that would have guaranteed at least 13 days each year from the Queen’s racecourse on the BBC until 2013.
But Ascot dithered, saying they wanted to wait until the Jockey Club racecourses contracts came up for tender two years later. That delay was costly as shortly afterwards the BBC became interested in Formula One, then there were internal budget cuts, and, crucially, Channel 4 had successfully bargained to get paid to televise racing, rather than the other way around, much to the annoyance and embarrassment of BBC executives.
But the death knell for BBC racing came with the axing of Grandstand in January 2007. The Corporation had lost Newbury and Goodwood by that point, but losing the vehicle that racing had served so effectively for 50 years, gave executives the excuse they needed.
It is a confident prediction that BBC will never return to racing, which leaves one party at the table for future negotiation unless there is a revision of the 'listed events’.
J A McGrath is senior commentator for the BBC.
It was unquestionably the saddest day in my 40-year career as a racing commentator when I received the phone call telling me that the BBC had lost racing’s crown jewels in a Channel 4 coup this week and was pulling out of racing.
By J A McGrath TELEGRAPH.CO.UK 9:33PM GMT 19 Mar 2012
I have called races in 16 countries, holding down long-term contracts in four, yet when I was appointed successor to Sir Peter O’Sullevan as the BBC’s senior commentator in 1997, I saw it as the pinnacle in a specialised area of broadcasting. I was proud to have been selected.
The history and tradition that came with the job were impressive. So were the people working in BBC Sport. They were knowledgable, passionate and perceptive, and they also understood their audience.
But times change quickly, and so do leaders. Somewhere along the line, in the past five years, the BBC lost touch with their viewers. Despite horse racing being the second most popular sport for attendances in Britain, and a way of community life that forms part of the fabric of this country, those at the top of BBC Sport chose to ignore that fact.
Personal preference overtook editorial judgment as they hid behind viewing figures on racing that were applauded by many internally whenever they took on a negative slant. History will show that although key figures in the BBC had no appetite for racing, several times racing did not appear to want to help itself, either. Back in 2006 Ascot were set to sign a lucrative long-term deal that would have guaranteed at least 13 days each year from the Queen’s racecourse on the BBC until 2013.
But Ascot dithered, saying they wanted to wait until the Jockey Club racecourses contracts came up for tender two years later. That delay was costly as shortly afterwards the BBC became interested in Formula One, then there were internal budget cuts, and, crucially, Channel 4 had successfully bargained to get paid to televise racing, rather than the other way around, much to the annoyance and embarrassment of BBC executives.
But the death knell for BBC racing came with the axing of Grandstand in January 2007. The Corporation had lost Newbury and Goodwood by that point, but losing the vehicle that racing had served so effectively for 50 years, gave executives the excuse they needed.
It is a confident prediction that BBC will never return to racing, which leaves one party at the table for future negotiation unless there is a revision of the 'listed events’.
J A McGrath is senior commentator for the BBC.
What’s the BBC for, if not the Grand National?
The Corporation’s withdrawal from sport undermines the case for the licence fee.
By Stephen Pollard TELEGRAPH.CO.UK
According to BBC News yesterday, the rights to screen the Grand National – and every other big race – have been “poached” by Channel 4, after the commercial station outbid the BBC.
Technically, that is true. If I submit a bid of 50p for a house worth a few million, and lose out, then I have indeed been outbid. But strip the news of the spin, and it’s clear what really happened. The BBC apparatchiks decided a while ago that they have no real interest in racing and have effectively ducked out, leaving the field open to Channel 4.
For racing fanatics such as myself, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The BBC’s coverage has been awful for years. But for the Corporation, it is much more important. It is a sign of just how lamentable its situation now is as a sports broadcaster.
For decades, the BBC was the home of horse racing: the voice of Sir Peter O’Sullevan remains the sound most closely associated with the sport, even though he retired in 1997. But in recent years, the BBC’s commitment has been paltry, showing no noticeable interest in the sport beyond the Grand National and Royal Ascot.
Fine. If the powers that be don’t want their digital channels sullied with one of the nation’s most popular sports, that’s their business. Except, of course, it isn’t. The BBC is not just any old broadcaster. If you and I don’t pay our annual tax to it, we go to prison. That special status is justified by its defenders precisely because, they say, the BBC is different from all other broadcasters. It is the national broadcaster – an organisation dedicated to rising above commercial and ratings considerations, and so entitled to special treatment.
This has been nonsense for years. There are few things that tie a nation together more than sport. Yet if the BBC’s status is to be judged on its live sports coverage, it would be more appropriate as a national broadcaster for Luxembourg.
Only the likes of Remembrance Sunday, royal weddings or state funerals stand above the great sporting spectacles as moments that glue the nation together. Traditionally, no one would ever have thought of watching such an occasion on another channel. Yet even these are no longer the automatic domain of the BBC. ITV’s coverage last year of the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was thought by almost every television critic to be far superior.
As for sport, what few significant events the BBC does still broadcast are outshone by other channels. Take the biggest of them all, football. When Sky bought the rights to live broadcasts of the Premier League, its coverage showed how moribund the BBC’s had been. New camera angles, serious analysis and constant innovation put the BBC to shame. And it has either refused or been unable to catch up: Match of the Day, for example, remains a predictable highlights programme.
The same is true of cricket. When the BBC lost the rights to domestic internationals to Channel 4 in 1999, many fans worried that a commercial broadcaster would produce dumbed-down, superficial coverage. The opposite turned out to be true. In terms of golf, the Corporation’s coverage amounts to the Open, the Masters and little else of any significance. This weekend saw the latest example of a sport the BBC has given up on – Formula 1. It broke the bank to snatch the rights away from ITV. But now, after three years, it has itself lost most of the races to Sky.
It is all very well the BBC proclaiming its commitment to drama, to news and to regional broadcasting. But day by day the quality of “the offering” – what the BBC actually delivers to viewers – is diminishing. In terms of sport, in a bygone age, when organising bodies had little alternative to BBC coverage and were thrilled simply to get the national status it implied, it might have made sense to have a national broadcaster funded by a compulsory licence fee. But in an age when there are bidding wars for the few events that the BBC does want, and much better alternatives for those it doesn’t, the licence fee is an anachronism.
Ah, but what about the behemoth of the Olympics – the national event to end all national events? For nearly three weeks this summer, there will indeed be wall-to-wall sport on the BBC. And then, on August 13, the day after the closing ceremony, it will be back to normal. No cricket, no golf, no racing, and tired old Match of the Day.
If the Corporation wants to continue to make the case for a compulsory licence fee then it has to go back to its roots and refocus on broadcasting high-calibre, iconic, national events. If it can’t, or won’t, then the appropriate conclusion has to be drawn: that the BBC’s time has passed.
The Corporation’s withdrawal from sport undermines the case for the licence fee.
By Stephen Pollard TELEGRAPH.CO.UK
According to BBC News yesterday, the rights to screen the Grand National – and every other big race – have been “poached” by Channel 4, after the commercial station outbid the BBC.
Technically, that is true. If I submit a bid of 50p for a house worth a few million, and lose out, then I have indeed been outbid. But strip the news of the spin, and it’s clear what really happened. The BBC apparatchiks decided a while ago that they have no real interest in racing and have effectively ducked out, leaving the field open to Channel 4.
For racing fanatics such as myself, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The BBC’s coverage has been awful for years. But for the Corporation, it is much more important. It is a sign of just how lamentable its situation now is as a sports broadcaster.
For decades, the BBC was the home of horse racing: the voice of Sir Peter O’Sullevan remains the sound most closely associated with the sport, even though he retired in 1997. But in recent years, the BBC’s commitment has been paltry, showing no noticeable interest in the sport beyond the Grand National and Royal Ascot.
Fine. If the powers that be don’t want their digital channels sullied with one of the nation’s most popular sports, that’s their business. Except, of course, it isn’t. The BBC is not just any old broadcaster. If you and I don’t pay our annual tax to it, we go to prison. That special status is justified by its defenders precisely because, they say, the BBC is different from all other broadcasters. It is the national broadcaster – an organisation dedicated to rising above commercial and ratings considerations, and so entitled to special treatment.
This has been nonsense for years. There are few things that tie a nation together more than sport. Yet if the BBC’s status is to be judged on its live sports coverage, it would be more appropriate as a national broadcaster for Luxembourg.
Only the likes of Remembrance Sunday, royal weddings or state funerals stand above the great sporting spectacles as moments that glue the nation together. Traditionally, no one would ever have thought of watching such an occasion on another channel. Yet even these are no longer the automatic domain of the BBC. ITV’s coverage last year of the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was thought by almost every television critic to be far superior.
As for sport, what few significant events the BBC does still broadcast are outshone by other channels. Take the biggest of them all, football. When Sky bought the rights to live broadcasts of the Premier League, its coverage showed how moribund the BBC’s had been. New camera angles, serious analysis and constant innovation put the BBC to shame. And it has either refused or been unable to catch up: Match of the Day, for example, remains a predictable highlights programme.
The same is true of cricket. When the BBC lost the rights to domestic internationals to Channel 4 in 1999, many fans worried that a commercial broadcaster would produce dumbed-down, superficial coverage. The opposite turned out to be true. In terms of golf, the Corporation’s coverage amounts to the Open, the Masters and little else of any significance. This weekend saw the latest example of a sport the BBC has given up on – Formula 1. It broke the bank to snatch the rights away from ITV. But now, after three years, it has itself lost most of the races to Sky.
It is all very well the BBC proclaiming its commitment to drama, to news and to regional broadcasting. But day by day the quality of “the offering” – what the BBC actually delivers to viewers – is diminishing. In terms of sport, in a bygone age, when organising bodies had little alternative to BBC coverage and were thrilled simply to get the national status it implied, it might have made sense to have a national broadcaster funded by a compulsory licence fee. But in an age when there are bidding wars for the few events that the BBC does want, and much better alternatives for those it doesn’t, the licence fee is an anachronism.
Ah, but what about the behemoth of the Olympics – the national event to end all national events? For nearly three weeks this summer, there will indeed be wall-to-wall sport on the BBC. And then, on August 13, the day after the closing ceremony, it will be back to normal. No cricket, no golf, no racing, and tired old Match of the Day.
If the Corporation wants to continue to make the case for a compulsory licence fee then it has to go back to its roots and refocus on broadcasting high-calibre, iconic, national events. If it can’t, or won’t, then the appropriate conclusion has to be drawn: that the BBC’s time has passed.
Racing commentary will never be the same without clueless O'Sullivan and pis$head Jim.
Bring in Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jim Davidson imo.
Bring in Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jim Davidson imo.
RUK is a country mile ahead in the way that it covers racing compared to the BBC and Ch4.
Thes two will be sadly missed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4jjGM8h09Y
naglogs Daughter 19 Mar 12 21:10
We never had it so good in the 70's
Boxing Day 1970 - Saturday 26th December 1970 - BBC-1 Television
2:25pm It's a Knockout: for the BBC Boxing Day Challenge Trophy: Great Britain v. Holland, from Leiden, Holland
---------------------------------
I backed Holland at 3/1 - before the 'Pillow Fight, on the Slippery Poll, across the Swimming Pool'.
We never had it so good in the 70's
Boxing Day 1970 - Saturday 26th December 1970 - BBC-1 Television
2:25pm It's a Knockout: for the BBC Boxing Day Challenge Trophy: Great Britain v. Holland, from Leiden, Holland
---------------------------------
I backed Holland at 3/1 - before the 'Pillow Fight, on the Slippery Poll, across the Swimming Pool'.
How did we survive as kids that's why we were all so fit...Not like kids today wanting to get sent to their rooms as punishment because they got we-fi. Laptop, mobiles etc This was our Easter Monday TV
BBC One
15 April 1968
1045 Watch with Mother: The Herbs
1100 Closedown
1325 The Weather Man With Graham Parker.
1330 Holiday Grandstand
1340 Football Preview.
1350 Racing from Nottingham.
1405 Motor Cycling from Oulton Park.
1425 Racing.
1440 Motor Cycling.
1500 Racing.
1520 Rugby League. Huddersfield v Bradford.
1530 Racing.
1545 Rugby League.
1630 Motor Cycling.
1650 Results Service.
1710 Jackanory John Grant reads 'Littlenose'. Today: 'Two-Eyes, The Mammoth'.
1725 The White Horses 'About Bajazzo'.
1750 The Magic Roundabout Created by Serge Danot. English version written and told by Eric Thompson.
1754 The Weather Man With Graham Parker.
1755 The News
1800 Regional News And Weather.
1810 Quiz Time - Gentlemen, Please!
Pubs all over Britain compete in this knock-out competition which combines darts and general knowledge. Today: The **** Taver in Palmers Green, London v The Rocket, Acton, London. Question master, Keith Fordyce.
1835 The **** Emery Show Starring **** Emery with special guest star, Irene Berthier.
1905 Z Cars Starring Joss Ackland, James Ellis and John Slater in 'The Man Who Was Inspector Todd' by David Ellis. Part 1.
1929 News Headlines
1930 Billy Smart's Circus
A special Easter Holiday show.
2030 Eric Robinson Presents 'Semprini'. Starring David Hughes, Doreen Wells, Mary Millar and many more.
2115 The News With Robert Dougall, followed by the Weather.
2130 Film: Psycho Starring Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin and John McIntire.
2314 News Headlines
And the Weather Man.
2317 Regional News And Weather.
2320 Closedown
that's why we were all so fit...Not like kids today wanting to get sent to their rooms as punishment because they got we-fi. Laptop, mobiles etc This was our Easter Monday TV BBC One
15 April 1968
1045 Watch with Mother: The Herbs
1100 Closedown
1325 The Weather Man With Graham Parker.
1330 Holiday Grandstand
1340 Football Preview.
1350 Racing from Nottingham.
1405 Motor Cycling from Oulton Park.
1425 Racing.
1440 Motor Cycling.
1500 Racing.
1520 Rugby League. Huddersfield v Bradford.
1530 Racing.
1545 Rugby League.
1630 Motor Cycling.
1650 Results Service.
1710 Jackanory John Grant reads 'Littlenose'. Today: 'Two-Eyes, The Mammoth'.
1725 The White Horses 'About Bajazzo'.
1750 The Magic Roundabout Created by Serge Danot. English version written and told by Eric Thompson.
1754 The Weather Man With Graham Parker.
1755 The News
1800 Regional News And Weather.
1810 Quiz Time - Gentlemen, Please!
Pubs all over Britain compete in this knock-out competition which combines darts and general knowledge. Today: The **** Taver in Palmers Green, London v The Rocket, Acton, London. Question master, Keith Fordyce.
1835 The **** Emery Show Starring **** Emery with special guest star, Irene Berthier.
1905 Z Cars Starring Joss Ackland, James Ellis and John Slater in 'The Man Who Was Inspector Todd' by David Ellis. Part 1.
1929 News Headlines
1930 Billy Smart's Circus
A special Easter Holiday show.
2030 Eric Robinson Presents 'Semprini'. Starring David Hughes, Doreen Wells, Mary Millar and many more.
2115 The News With Robert Dougall, followed by the Weather.
2130 Film: Psycho Starring Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin and John McIntire.
2314 News Headlines
And the Weather Man.
2317 Regional News And Weather.
2320 Closedown
Channel 4 had to reassure officials about adverts during Royal Ascot
• Switch to a commercial broadcaster prompted concerns
• Sponsorship of races at Royal Ascot is 'no nearer'
Will Hayler guardian.co.uk, Monday 19 March
Officials at Ascot racecourse have sought assurances from Channel 4 that the "unique nature" of Royal Ascot will be taken into account when the station takes over coverage of the meeting from the BBC next year. Charles Barnett, Ascot's chief executive, was part of racing's negotiating team that hammered out a four-year deal giving Channel 4 exclusive terrestrial television rights to the sport from 2013 and it appears he entered the process with reservations about switching to a commercial broadcaster.
Nick Smith, a spokesman for the Queen's racecourse, said Barnett had specified that the track's showpiece event would have to be treated as a special case. "What we wanted to make clear was that Royal Ascot isn't like the other 51 weeks of the year," Smith said. "It's a meeting with a unique nature and a special history.
"What we were talking about was the way that the meeting is promoted and the type of advertising. We received assurances from the very top at Channel 4 that they understood what we were talking about and, from that point onwards, we were very happy to continue.
"What I think needs to be emphasised is that, from a financial point of view, this is a good deal for racing. The BBC offered more than they had ever offered before and Channel 4 comfortably beat that offer.
"While Ascot has enjoyed a very successful relationship with the BBC over the years there are obvious benefits to racing being associated with only one terrestrial broadcaster and the presentations made by Channel 4 were very, very impressive. We can work forwards now with the idea that Channel 4 equals racing and racing equals Channel 4."
Smith resisted suggestions that the advent of commercial breaks during coverage of Royal Ascot might hasten the day when races at the meeting would be sponsored. "The two situations are entirely separate," he said. "In terms of bringing sponsorship to the Royal meeting, our position is unchanged. It's something that's on the table but no more than that.
"While it might be argued that some potential sponsors would see obvious benefits in terms of advertisement breaks during the coverage, others might prefer to still see the meeting on the BBC."
Channel 4's racing coverage has been put together by the production company Highflyer since 1984 but the present two-year contract agreed in June 2010 expires at the end of this year and Channel 4's increased investment in the sport may bring changes. Hannah Walker, a spokeswoman for the broadcaster, confirmed on Monday that a tender process for the new coverage will begin immediately in the hope that the winner will be announced "by early summer".
It must be doubtful that Channel 4 can deliver the same audience for the Grand National that has been achieved by the BBC but the sponsors of the Aintree race remain outwardly sanguine. "We're busy concentrating on making this year's John Smith's Grand National the best ever," said Heineken UK's spokesman, David Jones.
"But we do have existing commercial collaborations with Channel 4 and we've formerly sponsored the Tour de France on the station, too. We've been kept up to date by Aintree throughout negotiations and we're looking forward to sitting down with Channel 4 and seeing what we can do together."
Viewing figures for last week's Cheltenham Festival show that 1.8million – a 22% audience share and 20% up on 2011 – tuned in for Friday's Gold Cup.
Kauto Star, who played a sizeable part in boosting that figure, may yet race again. His trainer, Paul Nicholls, said talk of retirement was "very premature". "This season told everyone not to be so hasty in writing him off," he said. He has no plans for a detailed discussion of the subject with the horse's owner before late July
• Switch to a commercial broadcaster prompted concerns
• Sponsorship of races at Royal Ascot is 'no nearer'
Will Hayler guardian.co.uk, Monday 19 March
Officials at Ascot racecourse have sought assurances from Channel 4 that the "unique nature" of Royal Ascot will be taken into account when the station takes over coverage of the meeting from the BBC next year. Charles Barnett, Ascot's chief executive, was part of racing's negotiating team that hammered out a four-year deal giving Channel 4 exclusive terrestrial television rights to the sport from 2013 and it appears he entered the process with reservations about switching to a commercial broadcaster.
Nick Smith, a spokesman for the Queen's racecourse, said Barnett had specified that the track's showpiece event would have to be treated as a special case. "What we wanted to make clear was that Royal Ascot isn't like the other 51 weeks of the year," Smith said. "It's a meeting with a unique nature and a special history.
"What we were talking about was the way that the meeting is promoted and the type of advertising. We received assurances from the very top at Channel 4 that they understood what we were talking about and, from that point onwards, we were very happy to continue.
"What I think needs to be emphasised is that, from a financial point of view, this is a good deal for racing. The BBC offered more than they had ever offered before and Channel 4 comfortably beat that offer.
"While Ascot has enjoyed a very successful relationship with the BBC over the years there are obvious benefits to racing being associated with only one terrestrial broadcaster and the presentations made by Channel 4 were very, very impressive. We can work forwards now with the idea that Channel 4 equals racing and racing equals Channel 4."
Smith resisted suggestions that the advent of commercial breaks during coverage of Royal Ascot might hasten the day when races at the meeting would be sponsored. "The two situations are entirely separate," he said. "In terms of bringing sponsorship to the Royal meeting, our position is unchanged. It's something that's on the table but no more than that.
"While it might be argued that some potential sponsors would see obvious benefits in terms of advertisement breaks during the coverage, others might prefer to still see the meeting on the BBC."
Channel 4's racing coverage has been put together by the production company Highflyer since 1984 but the present two-year contract agreed in June 2010 expires at the end of this year and Channel 4's increased investment in the sport may bring changes. Hannah Walker, a spokeswoman for the broadcaster, confirmed on Monday that a tender process for the new coverage will begin immediately in the hope that the winner will be announced "by early summer".
It must be doubtful that Channel 4 can deliver the same audience for the Grand National that has been achieved by the BBC but the sponsors of the Aintree race remain outwardly sanguine. "We're busy concentrating on making this year's John Smith's Grand National the best ever," said Heineken UK's spokesman, David Jones.
"But we do have existing commercial collaborations with Channel 4 and we've formerly sponsored the Tour de France on the station, too. We've been kept up to date by Aintree throughout negotiations and we're looking forward to sitting down with Channel 4 and seeing what we can do together."
Viewing figures for last week's Cheltenham Festival show that 1.8million – a 22% audience share and 20% up on 2011 – tuned in for Friday's Gold Cup.
Kauto Star, who played a sizeable part in boosting that figure, may yet race again. His trainer, Paul Nicholls, said talk of retirement was "very premature". "This season told everyone not to be so hasty in writing him off," he said. He has no plans for a detailed discussion of the subject with the horse's owner before late July
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