ITV has signed a fresh deal to keep horse racing on its screens until at least the end of 2030. The new agreement gives fans 117 days of live action every year across ITV1, ITV4, STV and ITVX. The ITV horse racing deal keeps some of the sport’s biggest fixtures, from the Grand National to Royal Ascot, free-to-air.

  • The four-year extension starts in 2027 and runs through 2030, covering the UK racing calendar’s top fixtures. Races such as the Cheltenham Festival, the Betfred Derby and Royal Ascot remain part of the package. ITV will also air at least five races from every fixture shown on ITV4.

  • Coverage continues across multiple platforms: ITV1, ITV4, STV, STV Player and ITVX. The morning preview programme The Opening Show also stays in place. This ensures national exposure beyond pay TV audiences.

  • The current rights cycle has already delivered strong numbers in 2025:

    • The Grand National hit a peak of 5.2 million viewers on ITV.

    • Royal Ascot pulled in five million across its five days, with Saturday’s coverage up more than 20% year-on-year.

    • Cheltenham Festival hit its biggest final-day peak in four years with 1.8 million watching.

    • The Derby also gained its strongest audience in two years, peaking at 1.3 million.

    • Streaming demand is also rising, with horse racing delivering over 15 million streams on ITVX in 2025.

  • Industry stakeholders welcomed the deal – see some quotes:

    • Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, called it “a vital deal for ITV Sport and UK horse racing.”

    • Racecourse Media Group CEO Nick Mills said it guarantees “exceptional visibility” for the sport.

    • The Jockey Club’s Jim Mullen praised ITV for reaching both racing fans and new audiences.

  • The new agreement will bring ITV’s horse racing partnership to 14 years. It also sits alongside ITV Sport’s broader rights portfolio, which includes England football matches, FIFA and UEFA tournaments, Six Nations rugby, Formula E, the EFL and the Carabao Cup.

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