The likes of Sky, UPC and Virgin could be fielding plenty of calls from Irish horse racing fans in 2016.
It has been 31 years since ITV last broadcast its last marquee horse racing event.
The dog days appear to be over, however, and the fillies are back.
The Racing Post is exclusively reporting that Channel 4 have lost the rights to terrestrial horse racing cover to their rival broadcaster.
ITV are said to have secured a four-year deal to show an attractive package of meets that will include The Grand National, Cheltenham, Royal Ascot and the Derby. The broadcaster are said to have shelled out £30m for the rights.
This may not alter the landscape too drastically across the pond but Irish racing followers may need to get their thinking caps on.
Saturday's Racing Post:
Shock as C4 loses rights to ITV#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/cz4ee9TVxd— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) January 1, 2016
Neither Virgin nor BT television deals, in Ireland, include ITV. Sky lists it in the ‘Other Channels’ section but it is not included in the regular rotation.
The reaction to the announcement was none too enthusiastic.
https://twitter.com/D_Sagers/status/683028915569442816
Not a fan of this at all. https://t.co/lbNaPqJDpH
— Stephen with a v (@steveohrourke) January 1, 2016
@sutts109 @Angelacb14 ITV is no longer shown in Ireland. And Ireland would have a big terrestrial horse racing audience.
— Luci OBrien (@GasolineShorts) January 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/PKeane1983/status/683033447175196673
