ITV will become British racing's new terrestrial television partner in 2017 after beating out Channel 4–which has broadcast the sport's major events since 2013–for an exclusive contract, according to Racing Post. That publication reported ITV will pay £30 million over four years for the contract, which will begin with next year's New Year's Day card at Cheltenham.
Channel 4 began broadcasting racing's 'crown jewels'–the Grand National, Cheltenham Festival, the Derby and Royal Ascot–in 2013, taking over from the BBC, but that channel's takeover saw ratings largely tumble. ITV's main platform is more mainstream than Channel 4; however, it is still unclear which fixtures aside from the features would be shown on the main platform and which on its secondary platform, ITV4.
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