HRTV®, a 24-hour television-based network dedicated to horse racing and the horse world, has expanded its horse sports programming line-up when it began airing top-flight equestrian-related programming, commencing with the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO 2009 from Aachen, Germany, on Monday, February 8, 2010. HRTV's airing of the best of the Aachen event on February 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT will be the North American premiere of English-language coverage of the prestigious event, which took place in late June-early July 2009.
The initial broadcast is the first of five one-hour shows from Aachen, which will be shown on successive weeks on HRTV. Each new show will premiere on Monday nights, with re-airs slated for Tuesdays, and the following Sunday. Headlining HRTV's first foray into equestrian programming will be the 2009 Eventing Nation's Cup CICO from Aachen, featuring international horse-and-rider teams. Sometimes termed a "horse triathlon," eventing is a demanding event testing the training and strength of a horse, along with the unique connection between a horse and rider, who work in tandem through cross-country, stadium jumping, and dressage disciplines.
Later broadcasts will include highlights of Aachen's world-class Show Jumping CSIO and Dressage CDIO events. "HRTV, based in horse sports, is pleased to expand its mission of leadership in equestrian TV by bringing the Aachen World Equestrian Festival, in English, to the U.S. TV and worldwide internet audiences," said Jim Bates, HRTV's Executive Vice President and General Manager. "This production by Carr-Hughes, Saratoga Springs, NY, is a great start to HRTV's launch of a series of horse-oriented programming."
"The United States Equestrian Federation is delighted to see HRTV broadcasting world-class equestrian events, particularly those that feature U.S. Olympic and World Cup athletes," said John Long, CEO of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). "The Aachen coverage, and other programming to follow, will heighten awareness and excitement for the FEI's 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG), to be held for the first time ever in the United States."
The WEG will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington in September and October of 2010. Plenty of additional 20009 event highlights from Aachen are slated for airings on Mondays (all at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) in the weeks ahead, including: Grand Prix of Aachen Jumping CSIO (February 15), Prize of Europe Jumping CSIO (February 22), Grand Prix Dressage Special CDIO (March 1), and the Grand Prix Dressage Freestyle CDIO (March 8).
HRTV, which carries horseracing from many of the sport's top venues, will add a wide variety of equestrian programming, highlighting both major international and U.S.-based competitions, as well as documentaries and instructional shows, in the months ahead. New equestrian programming will debut on Monday evenings, both in the morning and prime time on Tuesdays, and on Sunday mornings.
About HRTV
HRTV (www.hrtv.com) is a 24-hour television-based multimedia network dedicated to the "Sport of Kings," horseracing, featuring live racing action from many of the sport's greatest racetracks. Passionate horse fans are also entertained and informed by HRTV's award-winning documentaries, original programming, in-depth analysis and equestrian lifestyle programming. The live stream of HRTV is available on a subscription basis at www.hrtv.com to high speed internet users worldwide. The HRTV television network is presently available via cable, telco video and satellite in over 18.5 million U.S. homes.