Ten confirms Melbourne Cup rights as part of $100m Victoria Racing Club deal
Channel Ten has confirmed it has secured the broadcasting rights to the Melbourne Cup with a five year $100m deal, which will see the network cover the entire carnival from 2019.
The deal, which will see the cup coverage move back to Ten, was disclosed last week and is the first sports deal signed by the network since losing cricket’s Big Bash League at the beginning of this year.
VRC Chief Executive Officer Neil Wilson and Paul Anderson, Ten CEO with the Melbourne Cup
The $100 million, five-year agreement effective with the Victorian Racing Club from 2019 to 2023, will see Ten live broadcast the four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival – AAMI Victoria Derby Day, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, Kennedy Oaks Day, and Seppelt Wines Stakes Day.
Included in the agreement are free to air TV, internet, social media, mobile, Over-The-Top and Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV rights within Australia.
Network Ten CEO, Paul Anderson said: “We are extremely excited that the Melbourne Cup Carnival is coming home to Network Ten. Our Network has a rich history with this world-class event having been the broadcaster of the race that stops a nation for over two decades. The Melbourne Cup Carnival is one of the most prestigious horseracing events in the world, and Cup Day is iconic, not just in the sporting calendar, but for all Australians.
“Ten is home to some of Australia’s most loved programming and talent. As part of this landmark media rights partnership, all the thrill and excitement of the Melbourne Cup Carnival story will live on Network Ten across the entire year, and be showcased in new ways across our various platforms, including those of our parent company CBS.
“We have a clear alignment between our audiences and everything the Melbourne Cup Carnival has to offer. We are looking forward to working with the Victoria Racing Club and establishing one of the best sporting partnerships in the world.”
Under the agreement, Network Ten will provide Racing Victoria’s online service Racing.com with live coverage of all races across the Melbourne Cup Carnival on its channels and on the Racing.com app.
VRC Chief Executive Officer, Neil Wilson, said the club is delighted Cup Week will return to Network Ten, who held the television rights to the Melbourne Cup Carnival from 1978 until 2001.
“During the comprehensive tender process Network Ten proved themselves to be the best partner to take us into the future,” said Wilson.
“This partnership will extend the Melbourne Cup Carnival to be visible across the network, across platforms and across the full year. In addition, it gives us the opportunity to engage new and growing audiences to our Carnival and to the sport of racing.”
Seven will cover the 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival and Elliott acknowledged the strong and long standing partnership with the network.
“While we are excited about this new stage for the Club, our heartfelt thanks go to the Seven Network, a valued and close Cup Week partner of ours for 16 years. Seven has broadcast the Melbourne Cup Carnival to millions of Australians and has played a pivotal role in assisting in growing the event into the global phenomenon it is today,” Elliott said.
“We look forward to working with Seven on another outstanding Melbourne Cup Carnival in 2018.”
Outside the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Group 1 racing from Flemington will continue on the Seven Network until at least the end of June 2020.
Good play for them to get some sport back …. but knowing what they’ve paid and knowing what was possible. Doubtful to be generating much, if any, profits on this one.
you have one day a year that generates interest… the other 3 are filler and MG opportunities for your outstanding shortfalls.
lucky the airline is gone – as they are moving backwards at a rate faster than they take off. Lexus will want to make an impact…. but not sure you’ve backed a winner here. Time will tell.
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No other commercial network wanted to pay $100m for the rights. Seven realised it was not financially viable and is wisely investing in prime-time content.
The VRC must be privately chuckling!
Paul Anderson again has misread the play that probably explains why the Network, under his watch, is languishing a poor third. Since his tenure, hundreds of workers have been made redundant, the Big Bash went to Seven. shareholders lost their investments and the company was put into voluntary administration.
When will CBS wise up and withdraw your rights!
Ps the English darts rights are still up for grabs.
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