25 broadcasters are showing the meet across over 130 territories
Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV are airing the Bahrain International Trophy today, 13 November.
The two UK broadcasters are among 25 networks showing the meet across more than 130 territories. Racecourse Media Group and HBA Media worked on behalf of the Bahrain Turf Club to secure the deals.
The Bahrain International Trophy takes place at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club and has a total of $1.5m (£1.13m) in prize money. The coverage will be built around a new, dedicated 90-minute programme, BIT90, giving the event 50 per cent more airtime on participating linear networks.
This programme is hosted by Nick Luck and Steve Ryder, with reporting from Aly Vance and Nick Lightfoot. It will feature both the Bahrain International Trophy (4.35pm GMT) and the US$400,000 Gulf of Bahrain Cup (3.45pm GMT), sponsored by Finpro. Broadcasters will also receive extensive supporting content, including promotional material, interviews and Ryder’s runner-by-runner guide.
As well as Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV in the UK, Virgin Media will air the event in Ireland. In addition, Polsat will show it in Poland and Silknet in Georgia. WeDo Sports will provide coverage across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Other broadcasters around the globe include Fox Sports in the United States and ESPN and Disney+ across Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Channel 7, Sky Racing and Racing.com in Australia, Bahrain TV and Dubai Racing Channel across the Middle East and North Africa, Tapmad in Pakistan, D-Smart in Turkey and WeDo across Asia.
Reuters will also make the programme available across its news network.
Yusuf Buheji, CEO of the Bahrain Turf Club, said: “The Bahrain International Trophy is the centrepiece of our season and has established itself as one of the most important international races staged in the region.
“The scale of this year’s television distribution demonstrates the race’s growing global profile. The expanded 90-minute programme will allow audiences around the world to experience more of our biggest raceday and showcase Bahrain as an international destination for world-class horseracing.
“We thank RMG and HBA Media for securing such widespread coverage and look forward to welcoming racing fans around the world to this year’s event.”
Seb Vance, director of communications and international TV distribution at RMG, said: “RMG and HBA Media are proud to oversee the international television distribution of the Bahrain International Trophy on behalf of the Bahrain Turf Club.
“The continued support of major broadcasters such as Fox Sports, ESPN, Disney+ and Virgin Media, together with new agreements in Pakistan and Turkey, underlines the international appeal of Bahrain’s flagship race.
“The introduction of BIT90 is an important step forward. It provides broadcasters with a premium, self-contained programme in a prime viewing window, while giving the Bahrain International Trophy, its participants and commercial partners an even stronger platform around the world.”
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