​ITV wins Best Sports Programme at Broadcast Awards

ITV Racing won Best Sports Programme for its coverage of Day One of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Wednesday night’s prestigious Broadcast Awards. This is the second time the team have scooped this award, also winning it for its Grand National Coverage in 2021.

The judges commented: “It’s hard to make horse racing sexy and appeal to those outside of its usual fanbase.. but for 2025 ITV managed to it with aplomb.”

The broadcast began by showcasing the Irish influence on the event, including an opening sequence at an Irish pub and a VT echoing the iconic Guinness advert. It balanced covering the sport and atmosphere at the course, including a well-made VT for the famous Cheltenham Roar, with the serious topic of the danger to jockeys, with a tribute to 24-year-old Irish jockey Michael O’Sullivan, who tragically died after a fall in February. 

There was also technical excellence, including dynamic wire cams and super slow-motion cameras, as well as precise tracker cams and agile batcams. There were also augmented reality graphics, and a team of over 200 crew making sure it all ran smoothly.  

The judges added: “ITV’s coverage was excellent and captured the drama of a truly remarkable day,” including, “the race of the day, the Champion Hurdle. This race had it all - a David and Goliath outcome with a rank outsider romping home. The production team captured it all brilliantly. The post-race scenes were so heartfelt and well-covered too. Brilliant TV.” 

It beat stiff competition up against the UEFA Womens Euros 2025 (Sunset + Vine for the BBC), Euro 2025 (ITV), Women’s Rugby World Cup (BBC), Tour de France (ITV) and Test Cricket (Sky). 

Mark Demuth, Managing Director for ITV Sport, Production said: “Once again, racing punched above its weight and received another prestigious award. This is credit to the excellent and dedicated team we have both sides of the camera, and we couldn’t be more delighted.”

The Award adds to ITV’s Ed Chamberlin winning Sports Broadcaster of the Year in 2025, two BAFTA’s in 2018 and 2025, Sports Programme of the Year in 2021 and Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani winning Broadcast Sports Presenter of the Year in 2019.