What’s there to hide? There’s no reason for secrets in Irish TV rights bust-up
It’s all kicked off in Ireland over the last week or so over TV rights.
And as with so much in racing secrecy seems to be the way to go.
As you may well know, the old Attheraces used to show Irish racing but then it all moved over to Racing TV.
Much was talked at the time about the difference in the two channels, but actually presenters and shows had nothing to do with it all in any way whatsoever.
The change was purely down to picture provider Satellite Information Services, who for various reasons wanted to break away from Arena Racing Company, the part owner of Attheraces and now Sky Sports Racing.
Quite simply, SIS wanted to stitch Arc up and move homes, so to speak, and joining Racing TV enabled it to do just that.
It was even more serious than just that, however, as effectively It also was the only way SIS could survive.
They have since had to give rights away bit by bit to the Irish – in layman’s terms selling their soul gradually, but surely.
Now things looks likely to change once again, and some are not happy.
The chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has blasted five United Irish Racecourses (UIR) tracks which have not signed up to a new €47 million-a-year media rights deal and described the publication of confidential contract terms as a ‘breach of the strict confidentiality terms’.
Essentially what this means to you as viewers is that 21 Irish courses will continue to be shown on Racing TV from the start of 2024.
Five tracks have rejected the deal, namely Thurles, Kilbeggan, Sligo, Roscommon and Limerick, and may well end up on Sky Sports Racing.
HRI CEO Suzanne Eade has made it clear she is furious with those that have rejected the offerings.
Eade’s displeasure, though, is a little odd. At face value she seems annoyed about the leaking of details.
Eade raised significant concerns about confidential information surrounding the expiring deal being put in the public domain.
She said: “HRI is extremely concerned that confidential information pertaining to the existing media rights arrangements appears to have been disclosed in breach of the strict confidentiality terms within the existing contract.”
The question that every one should be asking is why are all these deals not in the public domain?
If we all knew the figures then everything would be straight forward.
It’s the same with the British Horseracing Authority. Secrets. Secrets. Secrets. So little transparency.
Eade wants HRI deals to be kept quiet. Explain why? What’s there to hide? All I can do is ask.
In basic terms rather than show us the money, show us the figures!