• C4’s dramatic loss of audience lies behind the decision
• ‘We wish racing all the best,’ says departing broadcasterHorse racing will have a novel domestic on terrestrial television from next year, ITV having won the rights from Channel 4 in a novel four-year deal to be announced imminently. The news is the consequence of a haemorrhage of viewers absent from Channel 4 Racing but still comes as a shock, and because it brings an end to a 31-year link between the broadcaster and racing.
A bright novel future for televised racing was promised three years ago when Channel 4 won exclusive rights to cover the sport,killing off the BBC’s involvement in racing. But longstanding viewers of the programme were immediately alienated by the axing of familiar and favorite presenters like Alastair Down, John McCririck, or Derek Thompson and Mike Cattermole,while John Francome declined to work with the novel producer.
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Source: theguardian.com