Racing TV's new virtual studio ready for launch on Friday

Racing TV's new virtual studio, designed and created to take its coverage of racing to the next level, will make its official debut on screens on Friday.

Viewers can see the new studio in action, starting with Mark Your Card at midday, and followed by racing from Exeter, Warwick and Dundalk Stadium, plus The Friday Club at 5.30pm.

The studio was first used for the British Horseracing Authority’s Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards programme on Monday evening.

The new studio will work as a hub by bringing in all of Racing TV’s race-day feeds, with reporters at every course, creating a ‘watch together’ racing community experience.

Built at the home of the Racing TV channel, at Ealing Studios, West London, the studio has been created in collaboration with Timeline TV, which has been RMG’s technical managed services provider since 2012, and MOOV, industry leaders in broadcast graphics and virtual studios.

There are four specific zones:

♦ A main presentation desk for a panel of up to three guests per live programme

♦ A stand-up position with augmented reality big screen, to integrate data and analysis into panel discussions

♦ Timing information data area for analytical shows such as The Verdict

♦ A panoramic area for festival coverage and the new home for shows such as Luck on Sunday

Adam Binns, Director of Broadcast and Production at RMG, said: “The studio will enable Racing TV to deliver immersive and interactive horseracing presentation coverage to our audiences.

“The virtual and augmented reality environment helps us to keep the racing fraternity closely linked on an ongoing basis and will be the perfect platform for video-conferencing and other remote tools, which are so vital now. We are very grateful for all the support and expertise which Timeline TV and MOOV have contributed to the project.”

David Harnett, Head of Operations at Timeline commented: “This has been a hugely collaborative project between RMG, MOOV and Timeline TV. Racing TV required a studio that would be flexible and adaptable to allow them to create different sets for a variety of their horseracing shows.

“We already work alongside MOOV at BT Sport’s Broadcast Centre, so we had no hesitation in collaborating with them and relied on their expertise and knowledge to deliver a truly immersive and innovative virtual reality studio.”

Commenting on the new virtual studio, Nev Appleton, co-founder of MOOV, said: “As we enter our 21st year, we are delighted to have worked with the Timeline team to create and deliver such an exciting and innovative virtual studio for Racing TV, which will further enrich the experience for all racing fans.

“Racecourse Media Group are focused on expanding the multi-platform presence of horse racing to help grow the sport in the UK and Ireland and this is something the MOOV and Timeline team are passionate about supporting.”