October 3, 2006

Horse & Country TV, in partnership with British Eventing, British Dressage and the British Show Jumping Association, launches this week on Web TV and on Sky TV at the start of 2007.

For the first time there will be a proper media channel produced by country people for people who live or are interested in the countryside.

With over 60 different country orientated programmes that can be viewed from your computer covering six varied themes including English Heritage; Rural Living; Equestrian; Animals and Wildlife; Rural Business; and Sports & Pastimes, there is something for everyone who lives in or enjoys the countryside. The channel is free to view to all viewers and will be free when aired on Sky TV. By the end of the year there will be over 100 different programmes that viewers will be able to watch at the click of a button.

Programmes that viewers can select, at a time of their choosing, feature some of the UK's most popular and well known country celebrities and sportsmen and women including: Ginny Elliot on Eventing, Tim Stockdale on Show Jumping, Carl Hester on Dressage, Ian Barr on Fly Fishing, Bob Nudd on Coarse Fishing, Richard Faulds on Clay Pigeon Shooting, Robin Page on Wildlife, Conservation and Farming to name but a few.

Additionally, viewers for the first time will be available see coverage of the FEI Samsung Super League, Dressage World Cup Finals (Amsterdam) 2006 and World Cup Show Jumping. There will be no other outside broadcasts of these events except on H&CTV. There will be more to follow.

In partnership with the BSJA, British Eventing and British Dressage and endorsed by the BEF, the Channel has secured the rights to broadcast a number of high profile equestrian events, including the 'Samsung Super League', the 'World Cup Dressage Final' and the 'World Cup Show Jumping'. As well as over 30 hours of equestrian sports, the channel will show entertaining and informative equestrian programming - have a look at 'The Work of Brooke' which is available to view on-line now.

There are currently 15 programmes on-line to choose from, an additional 40 programmes are now being digitized and will be available on-line over the next few days; at a rate of about 10 programmes per day. Horse & Country TV intends to provide over 100 high quality video-on-demand programmes and sporting events 'free to view' by Christmas.

"Horse & Country TV now gives the countryside an entertaining and informative TV and website channel that will allow people to keep up to date with what is happening in the countryside from major sporting events to how to improve wildlife habitats around your home", says Nick Ludlow, the founder of H&CTV.

"We are all exceptionally busy these days and what is brilliant about H&CTV is that you can choose when you want to watch the programmes. It literally brings the countryside to your screens in an easy to use and watch format when it suits you!"

Other features of the website include a monthly online poll that will be used to help shape H&CTV as it grows and develops. The first of these polls is "Windfarms - good or bad?" Log in to www.horseandcountry.tv to vote.