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Preakness Telecast Draws 9.7 Million Viewers

Nearly 10 million viewers tuned in to see Oxbow win the 2013 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 18 from Pimlico Racecourse near Baltimore, as ratings for the second jewel of the Triple Crown improved markedly over year-ago numbers.

KY Derby Viewership Reported at 16.2 Million

Television coverage of the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) on NBC drew about 16.2 million viewers, up 9% from 2012 and the second-highest number since 1989, according to The Nielsen Company.

Kentucky Derby Overnight Rating Up 16%

The May 4 telecast of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) on NBC registered a 10.4 overnight rating and 23 share for the race portion, according to The Nielsen Company, a viewership increase of 16% from 2012.

NBC Plans 14.5 Hours of KY Derby Coverage

NBC Sports Group will offer 14.5 hours of television coverage of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) from May 1-4, as well as live video streaming.

TVG Drops Wagering Fee; Offers Free Streaming

Beginning April 1, TVG will drop the 25 cents per wager charged some customers and offer 10 hours of free streaming per month. TVG had charged the fee since its launch in July 1999.

TVG to Air Group I Races from Japan

TVG has announced that in partnership with Woodbine Entertainment Group, the horse racing network is expanding its live coverage of racing from Japan in 2013.

HRTV to Provide Coverage From Charles Town

HRTV again will cover "big event" programs from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, including the April 20 Charles Town Classic (gr. II) program.

BC Classic TV Ratings Rise; Undercard Falls

Viewership numbers for the Breeders' Cup Classic nearly doubled from 2011 as NBC got a 2.0 rating for its primetime coverage of the 2012 event, up from a 1.0 rating the Classic received on ESPN a year ago.

Both TV Networks to Show Hollywood Races

The industry's two racing television networks, TVG and HRTV, will both broadcast races from Betfair Hollywood Park live beginning Nov. 8 under a new agreement in California.

Santa Anita to Provide High-Definition

Santa Anita Park will provide its fans both on-track and around the world a high-definition, digital simulcast television presentation beginning with the opening of the 2012 Autumn Meet Sept. 28.

West Virginia Derby Returns to Television

The $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) will return to television this year during a live FOX Sports Net broadcast from 5-6 p.m. EDT Aug. 4.

Belmont Stakes Viewership Up 12% From 2011

Viewership for the June 9 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on NBC was up 12% from last year and 62% from 2010, according to official data provided by The Nielsen Company June 12.

I'll Have Another Special Set to Air

"I'll Have Another -- Charging Toward History" will premiere June 7 at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) on the NBC Sports Network. It will be shown again June 8 at 7:30 p.m. and June 9 at 2:30 p.m.

HRTV to Air 13 Hours of Belmont Programming

HRTV has scheduled 13 hours of programming, beginning with the June 6 post position draw, surrounding this year's June 9 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

TOC Moves Harshly Criticized by Betfair TVG

The Thoroughbred Owners of California June 1 tabled action on exchange wagering for one year and endorsed a deal proposed by The Stronach Group, leading to a strong response from Betfair TVG.

National TV Ratings For Preakness Decline

More than eight million viewers tuned into the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 19, as ratings declined for the second leg of the Triple Crown. I'll Have Another figures to attract more viewers for the June 9 Belmont Stakes.

Preakness Overnight Ratings Dip Slightly

Preliminary numbers for NBC's telecast of I'll Have Another's Preakness (gr. I) victory indicate a slight dip from 2011 figures, although that could change when national numbers are released May 22.

NBC Plans 6 1/2 Hours of Preakness Coverage

NBC will implement all-access social media strategy along with TV and live online streaming for the Preakness May 19 from Baltimore.

NBC National TV Ratings Climb for KY Derby

Television viewership was up 2% for the 2012 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), while the share of viewers watching the race rose 6%, making I'll Have Another's victory the third-highest watched since Sunday Silence in 1989.

NBC Derby Overnight TV Ratings Dip Slightly

NBC Sports Group announced overnight TV ratings for the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) were off slightly from 2011 numbers but remained relatively strong compared to other premium sports events.

8 Hours of Derby Day Coverage on NBC Networks

NBC Sports Group will present 27 1/2 hours of Triple Crown coverage as it adds Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey to its team.

WV Derby Returns to Television This Year

The $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) will return to television this year as part of an $800,000 promotional package approved April 13 by the West Virginia Racing Commission.

Keeneland, Woodbine Meets to Air on TVG

TVG will provide live coverage of the annual race meets at Keeneland and Woodbine that begin Friday, April 6.

New-Look Televised Racing Series to Begin

"The Road to the Kentucky Derby," a four-Saturday package of televised stakes that stemmed from recommendations in the 2011 McKinsey and Company report, will begin March 24 with the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. III).

TVG Plans Charles Town Classic Coverage

TVG will provide live on-site coverage of the April 14 Charles Town Classic (gr. II) program at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, officials said March 14.

Del Mar, TVG Expand Partnership Program

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and TVG have announced a simulcast and ontrack broadcast partnership that will begin with the start of racing at Del Mar July 18.

NBC Takes Over Breeders' Cup Coverage

NBC Sports Group picked up the contract to televise the Breeders' Cup beginning in 2012 in a four-year deal that gives it a monopoly on coverage of all major racing events.

Third Straight Eclipse Award for ESPN

For the second consecutive year, ESPN has won the Media Eclipse Award for Television-Live Racing Programming for its telecast of "The Breeders' Cup Classic" at the 2011 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs.

BC TV Overnight Ratings Slide Minus Zenyatta

Without Zenyatta, TV ratings on ESPN2, ABC, and ESPN all fell in 2011 with Saturday's Breeders' Cup program suffering the most damage.

Cup Pre-Race Jockey Interviews to be Allowed

New policies in place at this year's Breeders' Cup as a result of the Life At Ten incident in 2010 will still allow pre-race television interviews with jockeys immediately prior to the start of a World Championship race.

Jockey Club Moves on Expanded TV Coverage

The recommendations in the McKinsey Report, a document design to drive growth in Thoroughbred racing, already are being implemented, including plans for four consecutive Saturdays of television coverage next spring.

Tessitore: Compelling Content is the Key

Horse racing has been a family affair for Joe Tessitore, who will host two days of Breeders' Cup coverage Nov. 4-5 on the ESPN networks and ABC.

HRTV Sets Advance Coverage of Breeders' Cup

HRTV has set its pre-race coverage of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held Nov. 4-5 at Churchill Downs.

TVG Sets Programming for Breeders' Cup

TVG has announced its lead-up programming for the Nov. 4-5 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs.

TVG Partners With Tracks on High Definition

TVG said Sept. 29 it has signed new coverage agreements with Del Mar and Keeneland as part of an initiative to present United States horse racing in high-definition television.

HRTV to Air U.S. Stakes, Arc de Triomphe

HRTV will provide coverage of the U.S. stakes extravaganza on tap for Oct. 1, a major day of racing leading up to the Breeders' Cup World Championships, and the Oct. 2 Qatar Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I).

NBC Sports Inks 2-Year Pact For Saratoga

The NBC Sports family of networks will televise stakes action from Saratoga in 2012 and 2013, extending its initial agreement that saw them beam 2011 races from the Spa to a nationwide audience.

Blog: Metamorphosis

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Jockey Club to Lead Racing's Plan for Growth

The Jockey Club Aug. 14 announced a nine-step plan for the betterment of horse racing and breeding and expects to spend millions of dollars over the next five years to implement it.

Jockey Napravnik on Sword Dancer Telecast

Jockey Rosie Napravnik will join the VERSUS network broadcasting crew for the Saturday, Aug. 13, telecast of the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational (gr. IT) at Saratoga.

Nine Regional Emmy Awards for HRTV

HRTV was honored with nine 2011 Ohio Valley Regional Emmy Awards at the 47th annual Ohio Valley Regional Emmy Award ceremony July 30 in Louisville.

First NBC Saratoga Show Draws Over 1 Million

NBC Sports' broadcast of the July 23 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) at Saratoga drew an audience of 1.18 million viewers, signaling a successful launch of the NBC Sports Group's "Summer at Saratoga" series.

CDI, Stronach Group Extend HRTV Partnership

Churchill Downs Inc. and The Stronach Group have renewed their partnership in HRTV, the horse racing and equestrian-related network, through 2014.

NBC Sports Saratoga Coverage Begins July 23

The NBC Sports Group's seven straight weekends of "Summer at Saratoga" coverage begins Saturday, July 23, with live coverage of the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I).

Belmont TV Ratings Rise With 'Ruler'

NBC Sports' June 11 telecast of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) saw substantial ratings increases over the 2010 edition on ABC, according to data from The Nielsen Company.

Belmont Coverage Schedule for NBC, VERSUS

With more than six hours of programming devoted to the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on Saturday, June 11, NBC Sports Group has released the schedule on NBC and VERSUS networks.

Preakness TV Ratings Edge Higher

According to data provided by The Nielsen Company, ratings for NBC Sports' telecast of the May 21 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) showed a slight increase from year-ago numbers.

Derby TV Ratings Fall 12 Percent

More than 14.5 million viewers watched the Kentucky Derby May 7 on NBC Sports, the network reported, making it the fourth most-watched Derby in the past 21 years.

Derby TV Ratings Remain Strong

NBC Sports reported strong overnight ratings for its May 7 telecast of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), slightly off from last year's record numbers.

Elliston: 'Major League' Mindset Needed

Horse racing needs to take a "major league" approach in order to increase economic opportunities and spur investment, National Thoroughbred Racing Association executive chairman Bob Elliston said May 4.