Racecourse Media Group, the holding company responsible for a range of media and data rights involving 34 of the UK’s premier racecourses, has reported a 15 per cent year-on-year increase in media rights revenue.
RMG said its 34 affiliated racecourses received £74.4m (€103.2m/$111m) in media rights revenues in 2014 – compared to £65m in 2013.
These revenues, which are paid via licence fees, are generated from licensed betting office (LBO) payments to Turf TV – the broadcast channel of Amalgamated Racing, a company owned jointly, and equally, between media firm Timeweave and Racecourse Media Services.
Revenues are also generated by multi-platform subscription channel Racing UK, internet streaming platform Bet2View, international television betting and pictures service GBI Racing, a terrestrial television rights deal with commercial broadcaster Channel 4, non-betting broadcast rights sales overseas and licensing of pre-race data through the Racecourse Data Company.
Simon Ellen, RMG chairman, said: “This uplift was generated chiefly by excellent growth in streaming volumes especially on mobile devices; the addition of Ascot to the RMG family, an increase in Racing UK revenues, which saw the subscriber base grow to 49,100; and, despite some underperformance in the early part of the year, a solid contribution from our international service, GBI Racing.”