Channel 4 threatens to pull plug on racing

TV horse racing has been plunged into a major crisis today after Channel 4 threatened to pull the plug on its loss-making coverage at the end of next year, unless the sport helps to fund the broadcaster's TV rights and production costs.

Channel 4 head of sport David Kerr said its coverage of the sport was no longer sustainable because viewers were too old to attract enough advertising.

He said there was an additional financial restraint because TV coverage of the sport could not be sponsored by bookmakers under Ofcom rules.

A Channel 4 spokesman today confirmed it was considering ending its coverage, pointing out that in most other countries the horse racing industry pays broadcasters to televise the sport.

"When a race is on terrestrial TV, betting goes up 250%. The people who really benefit from terrestrial coverage are the bookmakers. So why should we be making a loss on this to fund other people's profits?" he said.

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