Sponsorship was worth more than #18m to racing last year and is linked to the size of the television audience. Said Terry Barwick of Vodafone, which will be sponsoring the Epsom derby until 2002 in a deal worth #3m. " Although Sky might pay more it won't be a good deal for the sponsors and ultimately the racecourses if the audience is minimalised. I'm sure a lot of sponsors would think twice."
As discussions continued in London, Channel 4 gave details of an enhanced offer, which will include an interactive betting service in partnership with cable operators, NTL.
