Racecourse Media Group secures long‑term rights from 33 British racecourses

Racecourse Media Group has agreed long-term extensions for the audio-visual and data rights of 33 British racecourse shareholders, covering media, streaming and data through 31 December 2033. The racecourses committed to a new five-year term well ahead of the expiry of their existing rights in December 2028; several of British racing’s biggest events are now contracted to remain in RMG’s portfolio until at least 2034.

Racecourse Media Group rights renewal: who signed and what it covers

The renewals cover RMG’s complete media and data rights portfolio: streaming (Watch & Bet), direct-to-home broadcasting, terrestrial television, international betting and non-betting rights, plus pre-race and race-day data rights. The 33 shareholder racecourses include Jockey Club Racecourses, York Racecourse, Goodwood, Ayr and 16 small independent racecourses, according to the announcement published on 5 October 2026.

The five-year extensions were agreed well before the existing rights lapse in December 2028. The contracts run through 31 December 2033. The company also said that a number of flagship fixtures — including the Randox Grand National, Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, Betfred Derby, Qatar Sussex Stakes and Juddmonte International Stakes — will remain part of RMG’s portfolio until at least 2034.

Financial model and shareholder ownership under the RMG rights renewal

RMG is wholly owned by its racecourse shareholders, and the business model returns every pound of profit to those owners. Nick Mills, Chief Executive of Racecourse Media Group, framed the renewals as a mechanism to generate revenue streams that support prizemoney, facilities and investment across the sport.

"As a business wholly owned by its racecourse shareholders, every pound of profit generated by RMG is returned to racecourses," Nick Mills said, describing the renewals as a platform for growing revenues and maximising returns.

Conor Grant, outgoing Chair of Racecourse Media Group, characterised the agreements as a vote of confidence in the ownership model established in 2004 and said the collective commitment provides certainty amid a changing betting and media landscape.

Strategic value: broadcasting, streaming and data rights to 2033 and beyond

The package consolidates RMG’s control over rights that feed domestic and international broadcast, streaming and betting markets. The inclusion of Watch & Bet in the rights list preserves RMG’s direct consumer streaming product and the feeds relied on by betting operators and international broadcasters.

RMG highlighted that the long-term renewals position its shareholders to navigate pressures on the sector, naming retail shop closures, regulatory change and broader economic pressures as part of the operating backdrop. The board presented the renewed agreements as a way for racecourses to capitalise on opportunities across broadcasting, streaming, data and betting.

Reactions from racecourse leaders and the industry

Jim Mullen, Group Chief Executive at The Jockey Club, said RMG has delivered significant value from media and data rights for more than two decades and that income from RMG has supported prizemoney, facilities and the customer experience across venues. William Derby, Chief Executive of York Racecourse, referenced York’s role as a founding member of Racing UK in 2004 and welcomed the extension through to 2034.

Jonathan Garratt, Managing Director of Kelso Racecourse, focused on the year-round visibility that RMG provides: the feeds and data ensure racing action from shareholder courses is accessible to enthusiasts, bettors and participants every day of the week. He called the renewal a vote of confidence in RMG’s executive team and their ability to deliver commercial returns while evolving media products in a competitive market.

What this means for broadcasters, betting operators and partners

Broadcasters and betting operators retain the same conduit to the rights they currently license from RMG, but with an extended contract horizon. That continuity affects distribution deals, rights valuations and long-term product planning for partners that depend on RMG feeds and data. RMG said it will continue to work with broadcasters, betting operators, technology and media partners alongside owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys and stable staff.

For platform and technology vendors, the renewals reinforce demand for services tied to live streaming, rights distribution and data feeds. Operators that licence RMG content domestically or internationally will have certainty over key assets through the early 2030s, which informs commercial negotiations and investment timetables.

Mechanics and next steps

The statement notes the renewals were agreed by a vote of the shareholder racecourses and represent a collective commitment to the racecourse ownership model first created in 2004. RMG did not publish financial terms or aggregate valuation for the extended deals.

RMG’s public messaging frames the extensions as providing "important certainty for racecourses" during a period of market change. The company will continue to operate its consumer propositions, including Racing TV and Raceday TV, and to supply data and feeds used by international betting and broadcast partners.

Where this sits in the market

The renewals lock a substantial block of British racing media and data rights into the racecourse-owned model for the next decade. That continuity will shape rights negotiations, distribution strategies and commercial valuations for the sport into the early 2030s. Industry participants — broadcasters, betting operators and tech suppliers — now have a clearer horizon for planning around RMG-controlled fixtures and feeds.