By Muhammad Rafiq
DUBAI: The landmark 30th running of the US$30.5million Dubai World Cup fixture at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, March 28 will be televised live by a record 40 broadcasters to audiences in more than 150 countries.
The truly international fixture has attracted some of the world’s best horses, including the top of the list on official rankings – the French-trained Calandagan, who ended last year winning the Japan Cup.
The darling of Japan racing, Forever Young, last seen winning the Saudi Cup, will headline the US$12m Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline. Other big names to look out for are Breeders’ Cup (US) winner, the Irish-trained Ethical Diamond, and Ombudsman, winner of the International Stakes at York, UK.
Dubai Racing Club, working with its appointed distribution and production company, Racecourse Media Group (RMG), and RMG’s agency HBA Media, have ensured a truly worldwide TV audience, as befitting the global status of the event.
RMG, in conjunction with Timeline TV, is providing all broadcast services for Dubai Racing Club, including the World Feed programme, anchored by Nick Luck in Dubai and Rishi Persad from the UK-based studio.
Major broadcasters include ITV (biggest commercial broadcaster in UK), Fox Sports (US), ESPN and Disney+ (Latin America and Caribbean), Viaplay and Setanta Sports (Europe). The region will be served by Dubai Racing Channel and Yas TV (Abu Dhabi), who will both be on-site at Meydan, while the South-East Asian audience will enjoy coverage via Green Channel, Abema TV, and NetKeiba (Japan) and HKJC TV, Cable TV, Now TV and TVB (Hong Kong).
His Excellency, Mr Ali Al Ali, CEO of Dubai Racing Club, said “The 30th running of the Dubai World Cup is a milestone for Dubai and for international racing. To see the event carried live by a record number of broadcasters is a testament to its global stature and the exceptional quality of the horses it attracts. Our collaboration with RMG and HBA means we will share this great sporting occasion with millions of viewers around the world and to showcase the very best of Dubai on one of racing’s most important nights.”
Seb Vance, Director of International TV Distribution at RMG, said: “Working with His Excellency Mr Ali Al Ali and his talented team at Dubai Racing Club, RMG and HBA Media are delighted to deliver the widest international distribution in the event’s 30-year history. The Dubai World Cup continues to captivate audiences worldwide, and the commitment shown by broadcasters across so many regions underlines its status as one of racing’s premier global fixtures.”
Sport 24 will make the broadcast available to selected cruise-lines and airlines, including title sponsor, Emirates Airline, for those in the skies and on the seas. CNN Worldwide, which reaches 321 million households, is covering the race for its World Sport programme and Reuters will distribute highlights to news outlets.
Broadcasters have the choice of taking the World Feed, Track Feed (which allows broadcasters to insert their own presentation) and a 90-minute feed which features the Dubai World Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic.
Broadcasters covering the Dubai World Cup fixture include:
Asia and Australia: Green Channel, Abema, Netkeiba, (Japan); TVB, Cable TV, Now TV, HKJC TV (Hong Kong); STC TV (Singapore); SPOTV, WeDo Asia (South East Asia); TVRI (Indonesia); Sky Thoroughbred Central, Trackside (Australasia)
Africa and Middle East: Dubai Racing Channel, Yas TV (MENA); Racing 240, Sporty TV, Gallop TV (Africa)
Americas and Caribbean: Fox Sports, Fanduel, NYRA, (US); Sportsnet, HPITV (Canada); ESPN, Disney+ (South America and Caribbean)
Europe: Viaplay (pan Europe); Equidia (France); EquTV (Italy); Match TV (Russia); Polsat (Poland); ITV, Sky Sports Racing, Racing TV (UK, Republic of Ireland); Setanta (Eurasia and Baltics); SilkNet (Georgia); D-Smart, TJK (Turkey); Virgin Media (Republic of Ireland); and WeDo Sports (Germany, Switzerland and Austria)
Global, News and Magazine programming: Sport 24 (planes and ships); CNN International; Reuters
