Ascot switches channels to join Sky Sports Racing in 2019

RACING at Ascot will be broadcast on the new Sky Sports Racing channel from March next year.

Sky Sports Racing will replace At The Races on 1 January, and Ascot has followed both Chester and Bangor in moving from Racing UK.

The agreement, which will also see At The Races stream betting rights for the racecourse, will run until at least 2021 and means that racing at the premier track will be available at no extra cost for Sky TV customers.

Ascot joined Racing UK from At The Races in 2014, but the track's chief executive Guy Henderson believes the switch of channel is in the racecourse's best interests.

Henderson said: "Ultimately, Ascot, as a statutory racing trust, operates to deliver the best racing we can, the best facilities we can and the best on course and off course customer service we can.

"Our strategy is to develop the right mix of collaborations with organisations in the UK and internationally to deliver this.

POCKET ROCKET Judicial set for date in Nunthorpe after another bold showing at the weekend

"Today we announce two exciting new ventures with At The Races across pay TV and streaming for betting in the UK.

"During Royal Ascot we announced Ascot World Pool in partnership with totepool and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which sees our media rights arrangements there increased to all five days of the 2019 Royal Meeting."

Juliet Slot, chief commercial officer at Ascot, added: "We're really pleased to be partnering with Sky Sports Racing.

"We've chosen them because of the significant investment and commitment to the sport that they have demonstrated, the brand alignment and cross promotional opportunities that come with the major sports that Sky covers, and the fact that Sky Sports Racing is available in more than 14 million homes."