Newbury Raceourse swaps RMG for new TRP media deal

Newbury’s 29 annual race meetings will be broadcast on Sky Sports Racing from January 2024 as part of a five-year deal. The track’s fixtures, including the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials, will add to Sky Sports Racing’s existing portfolio which also includes Royal Ascot and The Cazoo St Leger Festival at Doncaster.

From 1 April 2023, all fixtures operated by Newbury will be distributed to the retail betting sector via TRP. The channel currently represents the retail betting rights for horseracing fixtures at all 16 Arena Racing Company (ARC) racecourses, as well as Fakenham, Hexham, Newton Abbot, Plumpton and Ripon. In addition, Newbury Racecourse PLC’s online media and data rights will be represented and distributed by TRP from 1 January 2024.

Newbury has been partnered with RMG since 2004.

Julian Thick, chief executive of Newbury Racecourse, said: “We believe the new agreement secures a positive and exciting future for Newbury Racecourse and its shareholders and fits with our long-term values and aspirations for the business.

“Sky Sports Racing offers a very attractive platform for us with its extensive reach to 14 million homes, a particularly strong supporting digital footprint with both Attheraces.com and associated channels as well as the brand alignment and cross promotional opportunities that come with being part of the larger Sky family.”

The agreement has been announced in the same week that RMG announced a new five-year deal with more than 30 UK racecourses.

Matthew Imi, chief executive at Sky Sports Racing, said: “Working closely with our wagering partners and maximising the exposure Sky Sports can bring to Newbury’s fixtures, events and high-quality brand we believe this will translate into significant long-term opportunities for them on many different levels.”