ITV announce deal to continue Cheltenham Festival and racing coverage until 2026

14 March 2023 , 12:50

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ITV Racing will continue to cover horse racing for another three years (Image: Getty)

ITV announced on Tuesday that it will be broadcasting the Cheltenham Festival for at least another three years after extending its exclusive deal with horse racing.

The network has signed a new three-year agreement to show exclusive, free to air coverage of UK horse racing until the end of 2026.

The deal covers over 100 days of live coverage across ITV1 and ITV4 each year - all simulcast on ITVX - along with morning racing programme The Opening Show.

Racing crown jewel events, the Grand National, the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot and the Derby will continue to be featured.

ITV ’s current racing coverage, which began in 2017, has won a bigger audience for the sport with Cheltenham Festival viewing climbing by more than a third overall and more than 50 per cent for young viewers compared with previous broadcaster Channel 4.

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Niall Sloane, ITV’s director of sport, said: “This deal will take us to a decade of racing on ITV and we’re delighted to be able to continue to bring to viewers well over 100 days of live coverage of this wonderful sport, including some of the most enjoyable, storied and thrilling events of each year.”

ITV Sport’s portfolio also includes Six Nations rugby, the Rugby World Cup, England Women football team matches, UEFA EURO 2024, the FA Cup and the Tour de France.

Racecourse Media Group CEO Martin Stevenson, said: “On behalf of our racecourses, we are delighted to have cemented our relationship with ITV for a further three years.

“ITV have been an excellent partner for the sport, providing more terrestrial coverage here in the UK than in any other racing jurisdiction in the world, illustrating both the commitment of the broadcaster and the enduring popularity of the sport."

Jon Lees