Channel 4

I can't see the Beeb giving up the Derby or Grand National without a fight. Even Royal Ascot would be a surprise, but nothing else would really be missed.

A kind of inevitability about that, and wouldn't be surprised to see Claire Balding join C4 full time after the Olympics if that does happen and become part of the racing team. The BBC only have themselves to blame - there are an increasing number of Saturdays now where they could do with a few races from 1-2.30pm.

The demise of BBC racing began probably when Grandstand ended. But, it fell apart after they lost Glorious Goodwood to channel 4. TBH, I think the BBC have lost interest in the sport.

It does remind me that once before, I think in 2001/2, there was a suggestion that Channel 4 were going to try and get all the racecourses, including Aintree. So, it has been thought about before.

No, there wasn't enough money around back then. In fact the opposite was a real concern, that C4 would pull out, leaving only the BBC showing racing, at the same time as them looking to reduce their portfolio. All tied into the "attheraces" saga.

I'm sure at some point C4 were actually being paid to show the racing - or certainly arguing they should be - it took sponsorship from the Tote to keep it on air.

They are beginning to take sport more seriously once again - though it is hit and miss as for example this weekend they are covering all of the World Indoor Athletics across C4 and More4 - but relegated the entire session to More4 this afternoon so they didn't have to drop Come Dine with Me repeats. It could easily have switched to C4 after the racing, especially as it's arguably the flagship session of the weekend.

It's quite a surprise for Horse racing that only a few years ago C4 were seriously considering the sport for the axe IIRC. I guess it helps they have a sponsor these days, and that they still have some high profile events like the Cheltenham festival. I'm not sure what money can be made through it, correct me if I'm wrong but surely the money for horse racing is through Pay TV and bookmakers.

The Guardian has a report suggesting C4 is offering double what the BBC currently pay.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/11/racing-tv-rights-c4-offer?newsfeed=true

If the Grand National did go to C4, the ratings would absolutely plummet.

It's not ratings driven anymore. If Sport can extract money from a broadcaster then that's all it cares about, Cricket has proved that, and to some extent Soccer. F1 have also gone from exposure to cash, which regrettably are now no longer linked.

I doubt they would. C4 is the home of Saturday afternoon racing and the days of BBC1 being the centre of sports viewing on a Saturday afternoon have long past.

I think the biggest concern with C4 is they need to commit to the full afternoon card - not go off at 4pm for Come Dine with Me repeats. Although with Cheltenham I can understand why they might not want to go through to 6pm with the full race card on C4 you'd think they'd at least put the last 2-3 races on More4. There was a brief period when they had "Channel 4 Racing on More4" but it didn't last long at all.

And before that it continued on Film 4.

For Cheltenham the whole production team is kept on anyway, providing coverage for Racing UK and also for the highlights programme (which, depending on whether it's finished early enough) is then either played out live from the racecourse or fed to C4 earlier in the evening. It can be a very long day for crew needed on the morning line and the highlights programme! Normal Saturday's the C4 production facilities are often used for Racing UK's feed once it goes off air on C4. Although sometimes it is passed straight over to Race Tech and the C4 crew can pack up.

Either way, the costs for broadcasting extra time on C4 would be negligable, because normally the facilities and crew are in place and still being used.

An early evening highlights slot on More4 surely isn't too much to ask for either. Notice the Gold Cup rerun is now just 5 minutes on Friday night, and they still squeeze in another episode of 4thought.tv. Why is that on every bloody night - usually C4's post-news slots were Monday to Thursday only and dropped if the five minute slot was on, but 4thought.tv seems to air nightly without fail, while C4 are also airing Random Acts every weeknight in a late slot and their Paralympic slots crop up in daytime too.