Sky Racing
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Predecessor | Sky Channel |
| Founded | October 20, 1986 |
| Founder | Bond Corporation |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia, international markets (UK, US, New Zealand, Europe, Asia) |
| Products | Television channels (Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing 2, Sky Thoroughbred Central, Sky International), radio broadcasting (Sky Sports Radio) |
| Owner | Tabcorp |
| Parent | Tabcorp |
| Website | www |
Sky Racing—previously known as Sky Channel—is an Australian broadcaster dedicated to live coverage of thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racing. It is owned by Tabcorp and manages several television channels alongside a radio broadcasting service.
The network provides comprehensive coverage of all race events organized by Australian TABs, spanning metropolitan and regional meetings nationwide. Additionally, it features selected international races from countries such as New Zealand, England, Ireland, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, France, the United States, and Japan.
History
Following the 1985 deployment of the Aussat A1 satellite, dedicated satellite television channels began distributing content to hotels and hospitality venues throughout Australia. Sky Channel commenced operations on 20 October 1986 from the STW9 studios in Perth, initially offering twelve hours of daily programming targeted at hotels. Owned by Alan Bond's Bond Corporation, its schedule included global sporting events as well as music and entertainment shows. Although early reception was mixed, Sky Channel quickly established dominance in hotel television services by acquiring competitor sports channels Club Superstation and Sportsplay in 1987. Subsequent to these acquisitions, the channel's production facilities were relocated to Sydney. Sky Channel also introduced Sky Ringside, a pay-per-view boxing service exclusively available at Sky Channel venues.
In 1998, the privatised New South Wales TAB purchased Sky Channel and launched Sky Racing—a new channel designed for subscription television platforms such as Foxtel, Austar, and Optus Vision—thereby extending its audience beyond hotel premises. In 2004, Tab Limited, the holding company of NSW TAB, was acquired by Tabcorp, bringing Sky Channel under Tabcorp's ownership.
Starting in 2009, the network rebranded its channels as Sky Racing with an emphasis on continuous horse and greyhound racing content. The service expanded into three primary channels: Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing 2, and Sky Racing World—later renamed Sky Thoroughbred Central in 2015 following the closure of the Australian Thoroughbred racing channel TVN.
Current channels
Sky Racing currently operates four television channels along with one radio station.
Sky Racing 1
Initially known as Sky Channel when it launched in 1985, this was Australia's first nationwide racing broadcast channel. Originally available solely through TAB outlets, sporting venues, and clubs, it extended its reach to direct-to-home subscription television on 5 September 1998 under the Sky Racing brand. The channel adopted the Sky Racing name officially in October 2009.
Sky Racing 2
Introduced on 30 March 2010, Sky Racing 2 was established to reduce scheduling conflicts on the original Sky Racing channel and to offer expanded coverage of both domestic and international race meetings.
Sky Thoroughbred Central
This channel began broadcasting on 4 May 2010 as Sky Racing World with a focus on international race meetings and related magazine-style programming. On 21 March 2015 it was rebranded as Sky Thoroughbred Central after securing broadcast rights previously held by TVN. A high-definition simulcast version launched on 1 April 2016.
Sky International
Sky International delivers selected Australian race meetings to overseas markets including the UK, US, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia. It provides extended programming hours due to its distinct scheduling and shares content with networks such as Sky Sports Racing. This channel is not accessible within Australia.
Sky Sports Radio
Sky Racing broadcasts Sky Sports Radio, which can be accessed throughout much of NSW and the ACT via AM/FM frequencies and digital radio in Sydney. This station mainly focuses on horse and greyhound racing coverage, complemented by general sports discussion shows. Its lively music programming is designed to foster betting activity through positive auditory cues.
Sky Racing World
Tabcorp’s division, Sky Racing World, distributes international racing footage in North America, featuring races from Australia among other countries. It supplies North American-style past performance statistics and parimutuel betting solutions to advance-deposit wagering (ADW) operators across the US and Canada, either by integrating with local totalisators or maintaining separate betting pools.
In 2014, Tabcorp acquired Wyvern International, previously an Australian distributor of racing vision, and subsequently rebranded it as Sky Racing World.
Discontinued channels
The following channels are no longer active or promoted by Sky Racing and are considered defunct.
Sky Business TV
Previously, Sky Racing operated a part-time channel dedicated to corporate live broadcasts, video conferencing, and meetings via satellite transmission. This service utilized leased studio facilities and leveraged Sky International’s satellite bandwidth for global content distribution.
Sky Ringside
Sky Ringside was a pay-per-view channel that showcased live international boxing events exclusively at Sky Racing venues.
Programming
In addition to airing live racing events for 19 hours daily, Sky Racing develops specialized shows centered on Australian racing categories, offering expert analysis and wagering advice. Well-known programs include:
- Formline
- Thoroughbred Preview
- Thoroughbred Weekly
- The Catching Pen
- In The Gig
Transmission
Live feeds are received by Sky Racing through fibre optic cables, microwave links, or satellite connections sourced from independently operated racing clubs. Since August 2006, the majority of live broadcasts and all key programs have been transmitted in 16x9 widescreen digital format to subscribers.
Slogans
- "At home on the track"
- "Power, instinct, heart"