Racing media rights saga nears an end

The media rights deal between Go Racing and the Racecourse Association is expected to be done by the middle of next month.

The media rights deal between Go Racing and the Racecourse Association is expected to be done by the middle of next month.

The 10-year deal includes payments to courses of £320 million with a further £80 million being spent on promotion and marketing.

The Go Racing consortium - made up of Channel 4, BSkyB and Arena Leisure - made its offer to all of Britain's 59 courses.

But 10 of the smaller tracks have opted out of the deal and have shown interest in the rival offer put forward by GG-Media.

In a statement issued yesterday Go Racing said: "The best outcome is a multi-media rights agreement preferably involving all UK racecourses, which is in the long-term interest of everyone involved in the sport, but absolute unity is not required."

Those out of exclusivity agreements - Cartmel, Exeter, Fakenham, Kelso, Leicester, Perth, Towcester, Sedgefield, Stratford and Taunton - will not be included within the service." PA

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