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Leading horse racing television channel Racing UK (RUK) today announced it will become a stand-alone channel again following the demise of Setanta.

RUK aims to continue broadcasting on Sky channel 432 but will move to a new EPG number if necessary. The price point will revert to its 2004 launch price of £20 a month but this will include the £9.99 monthly subscription to Racing UK’s on-line services. Subscribers will also continue to benefit from £600 worth of free race day tickets per year and members’ club packs.

Racing UK Chairman Will Wyatt said: “We enjoyed a good relationship with Setanta since August 2006, and the current situation at Setanta is very unfortunate. Racing UK flourished as a stand-alone channel before Setanta, and now we have a stronger financial base and an even better relationship with our customers. Racing UK is sound, safe and assured of its future.”

Racing UK will be in contact shortly with its 55,000 residential subscribers on how to re-subscribe directly. The channel will be free to air (for all existing subscribers) while this happens.

All current broadband subscriptions and the 2,350 pubs which subscribe to Racing UK will be unaffected. The channel is in discussions with Virgin Media to continue supplying cable customers.

Monthly subscribers should not lose out through the closure/administration of Setanta and annual subscribers will get the channel free until their next annual renewal date.

Commercial director Nick Mills explained: “It is a significant investment for Racing UK but we want to stand by our most loyal subscribers and didn’t want them to have to pay again to watch the channel.”