NO SKY DEAL – GBGB PRESS RELEASE

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain is extremely disappointed and frustrated with the news that Sky Sports has ceased negotiations to broadcast live top-class greyhound racing, including the final rounds and final of the Star Sports Greyhound Derby.

GBGB Managing Director Mark Bird said: “I am extremely disappointed that Sky have today withdrawn from advanced negotiations on a greyhound racing schedule. Everyone involved with the Sky schedule were of the opinion that the deal was effectively done, so Sky withdrawing at this very late stage is somewhat bewildering.”

“We have been working hard over the last few months to put together a package which would have funded the coverage, so the sport could have been showcased at no cost to Sky. We had planned to use an underspend of the 2017 British Greyhound Racing Fund budget, combined with a contribution from the shareholders of Racing Post Greyhound TV, to pay for the production costs to broadcast a number of big races up to the end of the year.”

“I would like to thank RPGTV’s Kevan Moretti, Dave Lawrence, BGRF Chair Joe Scanlon and my team at the GBGB for all the work they have put in to try and secure a deal.”

“There is now a concern that a number of Category One competitions may now be downgraded as many sponsorship deals are contingent on television coverage.”

“We will continue to explore alternative media options to promote and showcase the sport”.