Network Ten agrees A$100 million five-year deal for Melbourne Cup rights

Racing purists will not be disadvantaged by the Victoria Racing Club's new five-year deal with Network Ten to cover the four days of the Flemington spring carnival from 2019 after it was confirmed on Monday that Racing.com would also provide live coverage.

As part of the press release detailing the rights to the carnival from 2019-2023, it emerged that Network Ten had agreed terms with Racing.com to provide coverage on all its free-to-air channels Ch78 and 68 and Foxtel 529 as well as the Racing.com app.

However, the live vision streaming rights for Wagering Service Providers are excluded from the new deal with Network Ten.

The A$100million, five-year agreement is the biggest in the history of the VRC, and one of the biggest in racing globally.

The agreement comprises a suite of Melbourne Cup carnival media rights, including free to air TV, internet, social media, mobile, OTT (Over-The-Top) and HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) within Australia.

Network Ten previously held the television rights to the Melbourne Cup carnival for 24 years from 1978 until 2001.

VRC chief executive officer Neil Wilson said the club was delighted that cup week would return to Network Ten.

"During the comprehensive tender process Network Ten proved themselves to be the best partner to take us into the future," Wilson said.

"This partnership will extend the Melbourne Cup carnival to be visible across the network, across platforms and across the full year. In addition, it gives us the opportunity to engage new and growing audiences to our carnival and to the sport of racing."

Rekindling: won the Melbourne Cup last year for Joseph O'Brien and Corey BrownCredit: Vince Caligiuri/ Getty

VRC chairman Amanda Elliott said: "This is transformational for us and for the racing industry."

The Seven Network, which is a part-owner of Racing.com along with Racing Victoria, will remain the VRC's broadcast partner for this year's carnival and Elliott acknowledged the strong and lengthy partnership with the network.

"While we are excited about this new stage for the club, our heartfelt thanks go to the Seven Network, a valued and close Cup Week partner of ours for 16 years," she said.

"Seven has broadcast the Melbourne Cup carnival to millions of Australians and has played a pivotal role in assisting in growing the event into the global phenomenon it is today. We look forward to working with Seven on another outstanding Melbourne Cup carnival in 2018."

Group 1 racing from Flemington will continue to be available on the Seven Network until at least the end of June 2020.

'Our Network has a rich history'

Network Ten's chief executive Paul Anderson said: "We're extremely excited that the Melbourne Cup carnival is coming home to Network Ten.

"Our network has a rich history with this world-class event having been the broadcaster of the race for over two decades. The Melbourne Cup carnival is one of the most prestigious horseracing events in the world, and Cup day is iconic, not just in the sporting calendar, but for all Australians.

"We are looking forward to working with the Victoria Racing Club and establishing one of the best sporting partnerships in the world.

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