Racing Post to launch live Greyhound TV

By Paul Brown 5:00AM 23 NOV 2011

RACING POST is delighted to announce the return of live greyhound racing into homes across the UK and Ireland from mid-December, with the launch of a new three-times-a-week programme, Racing Post Greyhound TV.

Hosted by Racing Post, in co-operation with bookmakers Ladbrokes, William Hill, Coral and bet365, plus leading betting exchange Betfair, the programme will be broadcast on Sky digital channel 231 and Freesat channel 402.

Live evening racing will be shown from Hove and Monmore on Thursdays, Romford and Sunderland on Fridays and Crayford and Newcastle every Saturday from 7.15pm to 10.45pm. The programme will be free to view and will also have a webcast presence on racingpost.com and on founders’ websites.

Kevan Moretti, Racing Post’s head of business-to-business services andexecutive producer for the new programme, commented:

“This is a terrific opportunity to help re-energise greyhound racing, and help popularise greyhound ownership. We know that greyhound owners love watching their dogs run on Sky and we are very hopeful we can make this imaginative and exciting new initiative work for everyone involved with greyhound racing. The opportunity to promote greyhound racing on Sky Digital in the Racing Post and on the internet should bring some fantastic benefits."

Bruce Millington, editor of the Racing Post added:

“Apart from Sky’s excellent coverage, armchair greyhound fans have not had a lot to feast on in recent times. I know there will be a healthy appetite for Racing Post Greyhound TV. Dog racing remains one of our core ingredients and we’re delighted to be involved in this exciting new project.”

The programme’s first transmission date will be announced in due course along with the line-up of presenters.

Essex Vase semis set to kick off Greyhound TV

BY JONATHAN KAY6:07AM 24 NOV 2011  

Romford's Essex Vase semis on December 9, plus Sunderland, are the  provisional launch fixtures of Racing Post Greyhound TV, a new three nights a week satellite TV programme on Sky Digital channel 231.

RACING POST Greyhound TV has a provisional launch date of Friday, December 9 – which would mean a double-header featuring Romford’s open-race meeting highlighted by the Essex Vase semi-finals plus Sunderland’s graded fixture.

Stakeholders in the venture, which is hosted by the Racing Post in co-operation with bet365, Betfair, Coral, Hills and Ladbrokes, on Wednesday emphasised the potential positives for greyhound racing as a whole.

Gordon Bissett, head of Ladbrokes’ greyhound stadia Crayford (to be broadcast on Saturdays) and Monmore (Thursdays after winter commitment to Bags has finished), thinks Racing Post TV can revitalise greyhound ownership.

“The opportunity for individuals to watch their greyhounds on a television channel is a tremendous incentive for them to get involved,” said Bissett. “Owners are the lifeblood of greyhound racing, without them we have nothing really, and I think the channel can repopularise the sport.

“What stops people going racing is their own lack of enthusiasm and there is no evidence that showing the races live will reduce the propensity to attend. As a sport, we have to sell ourselves far better and this is a fantastic opportunity to do so – I’m hoping we can rekindle many local links and get people and businesses to support their local greyhound tracks by showing just what we have to offer.”