racing_news/

Cheltenham Announces New Raceday Radio Station in Partnership with Timeform 12/11/08

Cheltenham Racecourse today announced that Cheltenham Radio, powered by Timeform, is being launched for The Open this weekend and will operate at every Cheltenham meeting between The Open in November and The Festival in March.

The station will feature a mixture of live commentaries, expert previews, post-race analysis and live interviews giving the full flavour of each meeting via a team broadcasting from the racecourse. Cheltenham Radio, powered by Timeform, will be available to racegoers via pre-tuned earpieces, on 87.7 FM (within a few miles of the racecourse) and online at www.cheltenham.co.uk

Cheltenham Radio will broadcast from 9.45am until 5.00pm on Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15 and from 10.30am until 5.00pm on Sunday, November 16.

Peter McNeile, Cheltenham’s Director of Sponsorship, said: “This is great news for spectators and enthusiasts who can’t be here in person.

“We are delighted to be launching Cheltenham Radio, powered by Timeform, this weekend. Not only will it add to the enjoyment of the day for those people at, or on their way to, the racecourse, it will also allow those who cannot be here to listen online and capture much of the atmosphere of a day at Cheltenham.

“At The Festival in 2008, over 600,000 people listened to our radio station online, in many different countries, so there is clearly a huge appetite for Cheltenham Radio and we’re delighted to be offering it at all of our biggest race meetings. With programme sponsors already lined up for two of the three programmes, the service is already illustrating its commercial appeal.”

Timeform's Communications Manager, Kieran Packman, commented: "We are delighted to be providing a radio service for one of the top racecourses in the country.

“Cheltenham racegoers are rightly renowned for their knowledge and enthusiasm and our aim is to provide radio which will inform and entertain those in attendance.

“We hope that Timeform Radio can become the radio station for the racing industry going forward and building relationships with the likes of Cheltenham will help us to offer listeners a more in-depth and high-quality service."

Spectators at Cheltenham will be able to purchase Sound Dec© earpieces for £7 to tune in, or bring existing sets. And in an additional innovation, anyone buying a Timeform racecard on Friday will receive their earpiece for free.