Indian media company Bennett Coleman Group and sports and leisure management company Procam International launched a joint venture programming brand called R1, which will aim to transform the image of horse racing in India.
R1’s portfolio of 13 races, including leading races in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad, will be broadcast live on Asian pay-television channel Ten Sports and promoted via various other television channels.
Jim Ramsey, who has worked at UK commercial broadcaster Channel 4 and UK public-service broadcaster the BBC on producing horse racing coverage, will produce the action. Super slo-mo cameras will be used and more than 20 cameras will capture the reactions of owners, trainers and spectators from the stands.
To complement the live action, R1 will also offer behind-the-scenes content with the jockeys and race stewards. Bennett Coleman Group chief executive Ravi Dhariwal said the aim was to “change the way horse racing is viewed and give it a new look so that the new generation can be attracted.”