Racecourse Media Group and Arena Racing Company to form single production centre.

Two of racing's biggest operators, Racecourse Media Group and Arena Racing Company, are joining forces to create a single production centre to provide pictures and data for those organisations who want to broadcast racing.

The two groups said the venture will ensure costs of production can be shared and help British racing keep pace with technological advances in broadcasting.

The aim is for pictures and data from British racecourses to be delivered into the production facilities, which are intended to be co-owned by RMG and ARC and based in Ealing Studios, West London.

RMG, the company responsible for the media and data activities of 34 racecourses, and ARC, which operates 15 racecourses, also intend to unify their on-course production, reducing overlap and overheads, such as outside broadcast facilities.

RMG chief executive Richard FitzGerald said: "This shows how far we've come in our ability to unify as an industry to ensure we are fit for the future and can give our customers, whether they are racing broadcasters or bookmakers, the pictures and data they need from a single source.

"This announcement is about more than driving down costs; it's about sharing future investment, facilitating innovation and creating a platform that works for the future commercialisation of our racecourses' media and data rights."

ARC managing director Tony Kelly said: "Sharing facilities and unifying our operations will create a single, world-class operation for our pictures and data from UK racecourses. This move will also enable us to work more constructively with the bookmaking industry in the promotion of betting on horse racing.

"In addition, it's about bringing greater control over the sport's rights which is hugely important as we look to the future."

Or does this suggest ARC > RUK?

Perhaps the ARC courses might move to RUK?

Or the RUK delay might move to 7 seconds as well.

will arc now be able to reopen Folkestone and Hereford ?

Not much chance of the ARC courses switching to RUK when ARC is a major shareholder in ATR?

I agree with Duncan this would be a big worry regarding picture speed.

atr online has had a notice up for 3 years saying that a new improved video service will be available "in the autumn" - maybe they will have a fast service?

Yes dave 1357! ATR used to make money from the online service "Cobain" - online pictures that were ahead of BF video, for example. They ended Cobain's contract vowing to offer their own service. As you say that was due to be up and running Autumn 2014

arc courses to be delivered to ealing , london ( where RUK is now ) .

providing one feed for RUK and ATR to access on commercial terms

( said in yesterdays racing post )

that doesnt mean anything to me, tho, pablo...are there any implications re. pic speeds?

nothing said about picture speeds .

i would guess that if ATR will still be showing ARC tracks , the delay will still be the same as it is now , even though they probably could speed them up to RUK speeds , as they will be getting the pics from the RUK base .

similar to when ATR and RUK show french racing , RUK is miles ahead , but same feed ( i guess )

aye, good point about French/UAE racing. cheers

The aim is for pictures and data from British racecourses to be delivered into the production facilities which are intended to be co-owned by RMG and ARC and based in Ealing Studios, West London.

This will provide one seamless and standardised feed for those wishing to develop programmes around racing, while maximising efficiencies for the benefit of racecourses and the customers for their pictures.


That is part of the statement on both their websites. There is no reason why ATR pictures should not be as fast as RUK. If they are not then we know there are dark forces at work.