In a media landscape where top-tier sports increasingly disappear behind subscription walls, British horse racing faced real concerns that its biggest events could follow suit. A newly completed broadcast rights deal ensures that won’t happen. ITV has secured continued free-to-air coverage for Britain’s marquee racing festivals, delivering reassurance to fans who feared premium streaming might lock them out.
The famed racing festivals at Cheltenham Festival, Grand National and Royal Ascot are set to remain on free-to-air TV. A new broadcast contract secures broad access and really underpins fan engagement and betting interest growth.
For racing lovers across the UK, the news brings a huge sigh of relief: free TV won’t lock away the big meetings behind a paywall. The major horse-racing festival circuit will remain accessible to all, reaching into living rooms and mobile screens alike. That means the thrills of race day, the emotion at the finish line and the buzz of each jump stay widely available.
Iconic Races Remain on Free-to-Air Television
The confirmed free-to-air events include:
• Cheltenham Festival
• The Grand National
• Royal Ascot
• Epsom Derby
• Guineas Festival
• Key major weekend meetings throughout the season
The deal ensures that the major fixtures in the British racing calendar will continue to be aired without the subscription barrier. Flagship events such as the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National and Royal Ascot will be broadcast live across terrestrial channels, demonstrating a commitment to broad accessibility. Reports confirm a commitment of 117 days of live coverage annually across multiple free-to-air channels and streaming platforms.
For many fans, this means that the excitement of the starting tape, the weight of expectations, and the moment a horse surges past the post will remain part of regular home-viewing culture. In an age where subscription fees threaten to push sport behind paywalls, this arrangement stands out as a victory for the grassroots spectator.
Extending a Partnership That Revived Racing Coverage
Since taking over major rights several years ago, the broadcaster has steadily enhanced the production, storytelling and reach of British racing. That evolution has laid the foundations for the latest contract extension, which now runs through to the end of 2030.
The new agreement locks in live coverage across ITV1, ITV4 (and partner networks) and simulcasting on the streaming platform. This continuity builds on trust with race-goers, at-home supporters and the sport’s wider ecosystem, and it helps drive momentum for the sport’s promotional and betting opportunities.
Industry reports suggest the deal is worth a similar multi-million-pound total to the previous rights agreement, although the focus remains on audience reach rather than pure bidding power. Rights are negotiated with both Jockey Club racecourses and independent tracks, ensuring wide representation across the full season.
How Free TV Fuels Horse Racing’s Wagering Boom
With the races remaining free to watch, the pathway to engagement for bettors remains smooth and inclusive. Viewers can watch major fixtures, follow the build-ups, absorb the storylines and participate via the betting markets. According to a review of the best online sites, “we have tested, reviewed, and ranked all UK betting sites … ensuring you make informed choices for the best UK betting experience (Oddspedia, 2025).
In effect, the free-to-air exposure supports a virtuous cycle: the more casual viewers become engaged, the more activity flows through the pools and the bigger the market becomes for the UK’s top bookmakers, which has to be good for the punters too. That increased liquidity benefits odds, promotions and user experience across the board.
Given the popularity of both online casino gaming and sports betting, having high-profile live coverage available to all helps drive the dynamic of ante-post markets, live in-play bets and the overall fan journey from casual viewer to active punter.
Protecting Tradition and Why Free TV Still Matters in Modern Sport
Horse racing has deep roots in British culture, and festivals such as Cheltenham and the Grand National have national momentum and heritage. Keeping them on free television ensures that access isn’t limited to those who pay extra.
This broad access helps sustain the sport’s popularity and introduces new audiences, some of whom may first engage through a casual viewing and then go on to attend live or place a bet. In a landscape of fragmented sports rights and niche streaming services, keeping marquee racing on free platforms helps maintain its status as a shared national experience rather than a premium-tier product.
This arrangement benefits many working-class fans, families and casual watchers. It keeps the sport visible and alive on a national stage rather than behind closed doors. Fans and Punters can choose to go to the pub or stay at home and enjoy the racing in their own surroundings.
Who Wins From This Agreement?
• Fans retain free access to the sport’s biggest days
• Racecourses keep large national audiences for sponsors
• Sponsors secure broad exposure across demographics
• Bookmakers maintain large markets around broadcast events
• Broadcasters strengthen audience loyalty on major weekends
Everyone in the racing ecosystem gets a concrete boost.
Digital Expansion and Racing’s Reach Beyond the Living Room
While the main coverage remains on traditional television channels, the broadcaster’s strategy also acknowledges the shifting habits of younger viewers and mobile-first audiences. The service is simulcast on the streaming platform, expanding the screen reach to tablets, phones, and connected TVs.
This dual approach means that fans tracking the drama from home, on the move, or at work can still be part of the live experience. For sports-betting platforms and online casino operations that associate ancillary content with live sports, this provides a broader audience base, more data points and greater opportunities for engagement during live coverage.
In essence, the deal secures the past; it equips racing to be as mobile, accessible and integrated as modern entertainment demands. This innovation especially benefits fans and punters who travel, so they don’t have to miss out on their favorite pastime.
Mobile broadcast integration complements real-time betting features, such as bet-builders, cash-out and in-play odds updates synced closely with live race coverage. As interactive wagers gain traction, free access ensures these innovations reach the widest audience rather than only paying subscribers.
Stability, Sponsorship and a Stronger Future for UK Racing
The four-year extension gives the sport and its backers a stable platform through to 2030. That kind of certainty allows sponsors, broadcasters and betting partners to plan, invest and innovate. As one industry comment says, the new deal “takes the sport’s terrestrial partner beyond 10 years” (Racing Ahead Magazine, 2025).
This means racecourses and event organisers can confidently build festival schedules, extend fan engagement and enhance the guest experience, knowing that national coverage is secure. For the betting ecosystem, where pools, odds and markets often feed off high-visibility events, the key touchpoints of the season remain intact and potent.
Ultimately, this agreement reinforces that in British sport, access isn’t just a nice-to-have; it can drive growth, fairness and fan loyalty. It’s a lesson that could certainly be applied to other sports, improving access to a broader range of fans who may be unable to afford the subs.
The decision to keep the major racing meetings on free-to-air television is a triumph for fans, sport and the betting ecosystem alike. It preserves the heritage festivals as shared national moments and ensures that, simply put, you don’t need to pay extra to be part of the excitement. With free access secured through to 2030, the viewing public, race-goers and punters benefit from the stability, reach and commercial energy this arrangement brings.
By maintaining broad visibility, the sport keeps its momentum, both in spectacle and engagement. As horse racing evolves across screens, devices and betting platforms, ensuring the big days remain accessible underlines that tradition and innovation can go hand in hand. Whether you’re watching for the thrill of the jumps, placing a careful wager, or simply enjoying a Sunday afternoon, the spectacle remains as open as ever.
Keeping these shared national moments freely viewable helps racing reach the next generation of fans. The thrill that starts on the sofa may become a first race-day ticket, a lifelong interest or even an owner’s dream. The foundations of the sport’s future are strengthened every time a family tunes in without barriers.