- Final year of Channel 10 deal to host Cup day
- Have made some changes to their coverage
- Not all the changes have been well accepted
Channel 10 has made some changes with its Melbourne Cup television coverage in 2023 and not all of them have been a hit with viewers at home.
The network had to break open the piggybank to secure the rights to the jewel in the Spring Racing Carnival, splurging $100million to prise the Melbourne Cup out of rival network Channel Seven‘s hands from 2019.
Channel 10 has the rights to the Cup, Derby, Oaks and Stakes days at Flemington on a five-year deal that expires after the 2023 event.
Channel Nine is set to win the rights to broadcast the Melbourne Cup carnival from 2024 and beyond with Channel Seven bowing out of the contest.
And any hopes of Channel 10 keeping the marquee race day could be impacted by fan backlash against some strange decisions this year.
Eddie McGuire, pictured with champion jockey Glen Boss and the Melbourne Cup, was a curious addition to the hosting panel
Race fans have complained about Channel 10 using jockey cam during the most exciting part of the race
The main one of those decisions has been the hiring of Eddie McGuire as a host.
‘Since when is Eddie McGuire a racing expert?’ one viewer fumed on social media.
’10Play found a way to make their Cup broadcast unwatchable. Two words: Eddie McGuire,’ posted another.
McGuire is more famous for his AFL coverage, working for years as a commentator and host of the now-defunct AFL Footy Show.
Fans have also lashed the decision to use ‘Jockey Cam’ from race four at Flemington today, with several viewers saying it ruins the spectacle.
When the horses reach the two furlong pole for the final push toward home, the network has been switching to cameras mounted on the jockeys themselves.
This strips viewers of the tense finish when close runners cross the final pole, leading to many taking to social media to complain.
”If they think jockey cam is insightful on cup day at Flemington, they should try a driver cam in the last at Wagga #Trots tonight!!!’ one angry viewer posted.
‘At a function at the pub. Channel 10 coverage. My God how pathetic. 200m out and they switch to jockey cam! FFS,’ posted another.
‘Please, NEVER give us the jockey cam during a sprint race ever again.’
