C4: Racing set for axe, Shipwrecked returns, E4 goes 24hr

From Media Guardian:

E4 to rock around the clock

Shipwrecked resurfaces on C4

C4 to pull plug on racing


In summary, E4 is set to become a 24 hr broadcaster and from August, following the conclusion of Big Brother, will launch a new eight-hour music video zone to co-incide with the launch of C4's new service, Slash Music.


Meanwhile, Shipwrecked is set to return to C4, though in a new format. The series which sends 18-24 yr olds to a desert island to survive was the first in the new way of Reality television, launching on 30 Dec 1999. It ran for three series, followed by spin-off Eden.

The format will change though. The previous series was just about living on an island, but the new series will have two teams and a cash prize for the over all winner. It'll be shown on T4 Sunday over 20 weeks in 60 minute episodes.

Finally, it's looking increasingly likely that C4 will ditch racing later this year. They are losing money on the current deal and want the racing authorities to pay C4 for the exposure of terrestrial TV coverage, arguing it benefits Racing far more than it benefits C4.

If racing goes C4 will lose virtually all it's live sport, with it's cricket also ending this summer.

The bookies should pay production costs for Channel Four racing. It's then who benefit in the end. To be left with smug Balding and her team of ex-jockeys providing the only terrestrial racing coverage will be hard to stomach.

Also, I think I'm right here, but if racing does go then next year there will be NO live sport on Channel Four. The Cricket will have gone to Sky, Racing gone. Basketball, American Football, WRC, and Le Tour all left years ago. There's only Trans World Sport and World Cup Skiing left, and those shows are pre-recorded.

This comes as a blow to those racing fans who have access to Sky but can't afford RacingUK, as Channel 4 (and the BBC) have covered a few of the bigger races from the RacingUK courses.

Correct James, I have Sky but as I work full time 5 days a week shelling out £20 quid a month for Racing UK, when I can only watch it on a weekend, is a total waste of money.

At least with Channel Four and the big races (Cheltenham, York Dante ect), I can record the coverage and watch it when I get home having avoided hearing which of my bets didn't storm home in first place on the way back!

what about AT THE RACES thats free...

At The Races doesn't cover the race courses that RacingUK covers. I'm not sure how many are on each channel, but I think RacingUK has an exclusive deal with quite a number of courses.

'Survivor' anyone...?

I can understand why Channel Four Racing is going to be dropped, shame really but it has lost alot of money for the channel, especially thanks to the original conception of At The Races a few years ago. Remember Channel 4 isn't Privately owned, so it has no extra income to fall back on, so from a financial POV you cannot blame them in the slightest.

Channel 4 got too attatched to the Cricket, as it is Thanks to that the Tour De France was dropped and later moved to ITV.

Interesting to see that they are finally going to make E4 go 24 hours a day permanently, but with music? It would be better if they had music on until late morning and then show some stuff, but one could presume that there will be more Friends and The OC re-runs.

I wonder if Channel 5 will have the rights since ITV had them first time before C4 was launched

Probably not, can't see Five being interested, plus IIRC Channel 4 (well any Broadcaster) can overpay for sporting events like Horse Racing, frankly I can only see it being on the BBC.

As for ITV having the rights, they had it on ITV until the mid 1980's when they were pratically given to Channel 4, a few ITV programmes got moved to Channel 4 at this time such as 'What The Papers Say' and 'Afternoon Plus'

I wonder if E4 would consider repeating a certain breakfast show that was axed by C4 back in 2002?.