MUMBAI: Channel 4 has become the new home of British horseracing after securing a four year terrestrial rights deal with the Racecourse Media Group (RMG), in association with Jockey Club Racecourses, Ascot Racecourse and other independent racecourses.

As a consequence, BBC, which was the incumbent rights holder, will no longer showcase British racing on its terrestrial platforms.

The four-year partnership will deliver around 90 days a year of terrestrial coverage of horseracing on Channel 4. The new arrangement will see all 35 races in the QIPCO British Champions Series of premier Flat racing broadcast on Channel 4.

Channel 4 will now exclusively broadcast the racing calendar from 2013 - Aintree?s three-day John Smith?s Grand National meeting, the Investec Derby Festival from Epsom Downs, Royal Ascot and the QIPCO British Champions Day from Ascot will come to the Channel.

Channel 4?s chief creative officer Jay Hunt said, "We are delighted Channel 4 is to become the sole destination for British horseracing after securing such iconic events as Royal Ascot, the John Smith?s Grand National and the Investec Derby. These will sit alongside our established coverage of The Cheltenham Festival and major flat meetings such as Glorious Goodwood and the Ebor Festival and means we can extend our distinctive approach to all the crown jewels of the sport."

The broadcaster aims to employ distinctive approach to marketing and promotion to bring the sport to committed racing fans and strengthen its relationship with younger and broader audiences alike and will seek to introduce new innovations and enhancements to the production values of its racing programming over the course of the new rights period.

Negotiations were led by Racecourse Media Group (RMG) alongside The Jockey Club, Ascot Racecourse and British Champions Series Ltd as rightsholders with Martin Baker, Director of Commercial Affairs, at the helm of the Channel 4 team.