New 4-year deal keeps UK horse racing on ITV until 2030
November 20, 2025
ITV has affirmed a new four-year deal that will maintain the broadcaster as the host of free-to-air UK horse racing between 2027 and 2030. The announcement provides the sport with a clear runway in the coming few seasons and clears any confusion about who is going to host the biggest fixtures when the current contract expires. To the fans who track the calendar, the ruling will ensure that the accustomed rhythm of racing on ITV1, ITV4, STV, and ITVX will not be disrupted.
Under the new deal, ITV undertakes to air 117 days of live racing annually. That encompasses the events that most viewers identify with the sport: the Randox Grand National, Royal Ascot, the Cheltenham Festival, and the Betfred Derby at Epsom. The broadcaster will also retain The Opening Show, which now forms the launchpad of many viewers on the weekend who desire early form discussion, stable updates, and interviews prior to the first runners taking off. When the preview begins, some fans quietly check their lucky 15 tips for today just to confirm that the selections they planned to back today still fit with the morning form updates.
Industry groups were quick to welcome the news. Racecourse Media Group, The Jockey Club, Arena Racing Company, and Ascot Racecourse all pointed to the consistency the agreement brings. When rights shift from one broadcaster to another, scheduling and audience habits can change with them, but this extension allows racecourses and organisers to work from a stable base. It also helps viewers, who won’t need to hunt across multiple channels or platforms to follow the season’s major moments.
Brant Dunshea, Acting Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, called the deal a strong step for British racing. “This is excellent news for British racing. ITV has shown itself to be a first-class broadcast partner, not only in terms of the quality of its coverage but in bringing more and more racing to mainstream terrestrial audiences. It is also exciting to consider what the future can hold in terms of working together around innovation in the broadcast experience, with growth in engagement with racing and attracting and retaining our audiences being a core area of focus for the sport’s industry strategy,” he stated.
The racing production at ITV has already gained numerous awards, such as two BAFTA awards. The broadcasts have been acclaimed as having clear storytelling, excellent camera work, and commentary that is both technical and accessible. That reputation has some weight in an era when most sports are moving behind subscription gates. The fact that racing remains free to view allows it to retain the wide spectrum of casual and serious fans that the sport has traditionally been able to count on. It also helps in race attendance, as when television audiences are high, it usually enhances interest in major events.
With both sides aligned for the next four years, fans can expect a familiar viewing experience and steady coverage across the biggest days on the calendar. The agreement reinforces racing’s place on mainstream television and gives the sport the breathing room it needs to focus on the next stage of its development.
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