Greyhound racing has reached a landmark deal to return to free-to-air television this year – with three marquee race nights to air live as one hour specials on the Seven Network.
In a boon for the sport, Greyhound Racing Victoria will work with Seven on airing three of its biggest race nights across 7mate/7TWO.
And it will be complemented by a return of industry magazine show Thrill of The Chase, a five-part, one hour series to air on Sunday mornings later in the year.
The live event coverages kicks off on Saturday 29 February at The Meadows from 9pm with the 2020 Group 1 TAB Australian Cup where the best of the best greyhounds will compete for the $300,000 first prize.
The country’s only sweep stakes series returns on Thursday 9 April – The Launching Pad at Sandown Park – with $420,000 in prizemoney up for grabs for the best emerging greyhounds in Australia.
And on Friday 27 November the Seven Network will deliver live coverage from Sandown Park of the Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup – the biggest night of greyhound racing on the national calendar. There will be more than $1 million in prizemoney up for grabs across the 12 race programme highlighting the very best the sport of greyhound racing has to offer.
Following its debut success last year, Thrill Of The Chase - hosted by Jack Heverin, James Van de Maat and Molly Haines, will return later in the year - taking viewers inside the world of greyhound racing and showcasing its brightest stars thanks to Greyhound Racing Victoria.
GRV General Manager of Strategic Communication and Marketing, Louise Martin said the free-to-air TV deal was a historic deal for the sport.
“We are thrilled to bring the sport of greyhound racing to a broad audience of sport lovers. Viewers will not only be treated to expert form analysis and race previews but they will get to see the love the participants have for these amazing athletes through our feature stories and Molly’s Lounge.”
The live broadcasts and magazine program, supported by TAB, will be broadcast nationally.
Tabcorp Head of Media Communications, Adam Hamilton said: "It's fantastic to have some of greyhound racing's biggest races on free-to-air and for TAB to be such a big part of it."It further cements TAB's long and great relationship with GRV and we look forward to the first of them, the Australian Cup, at The Meadows on February 29.”
The entire series will be produced and distributed by Crocmedia’s TV production company Rainmaker.