Seven West Media wins Magic Millions deal
The richest horse race in Queens-land is now part of Seven West Media's growing sport broadcast portfolio after a long-term agreement was signed with Magic Millions Sales Pty Ltd.
The Jeep Magic Millions carnival, sale and race day, held annually on the Gold Coast, features elite thoroughbred auctions and racing with prize money of $4.7 million, making it the richest race day on the Queensland calendar.
The deal comes just weeks after SWM, which publishes _The West Australian _, locked in the 2016 Rio Olympics, 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Magic Millions co-owner Gerry Harvey said it was a privilege to join Seven's elite stable of sport and racing properties.
"Seven is Australia's pre-eminent thoroughbred racing broadcaster and Magic Millions is Queensland's rich race day," he said. "Today's announcement is a perfect partnership.
"Our multiyear, multiplatform deal will give both parties the opportunity to trial new coverage techniques and delivery platforms to bring our Gold Coast-based race day to hundreds of thousands more people in more time zones - live and in replay."
Channel 7 Brisbane managing director Max Walters said the race was an important component of thoroughbred racing and complemented the network's coverage of the Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne racing carnivals.
Seven now has the rights to most major sports events in Australia, including the AFL finals and Brownlow Medal count, the major tennis tournaments such as the Australian Open and the Davis Cup, the Australian Open Golf and Masters, the Melbourne Cup, Bathurst 1000 and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It also has broadcast rights to international events including the NFL Super Bowl, the US Masters and Wimbledon.
The Jeep Magic Millions Carnival runs from January 2, ending with the race day on Saturday, January 15.
