If you're interested in horse racing, Equidia is definitely the name to know. Launched back in 1999, it has grown into Europe’s leading channel dedicated entirely to horse racing and equestrian sports. It’s run by PMU in partnership with France’s top racing authorities like France Galop and Le Trot. Every year, they broadcast over 2,800 hours of live action from 27 different French racetracks and various international events, making it the go-to source for racing fans.
The channel has a huge following, with around 1.3 to 1.6 million people watching from home every month, plus another 310,000 daily viewers catching the races at PMU betting shops. While it's based in France—reaching about 23 million households—you can also find it in Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco, and several overseas territories. It’s really the dominant player in this niche market.
Equidia does a great job of tailoring its content for different types of viewers. For instance, Equidia Live is all about the races and expert analysis for bettors, while Equidia Life focuses more on the equestrian lifestyle, like horse training and jumping competitions. They also have "Equidia Racing" channels for those who want to watch non-stop coverage without any commercial breaks.
Technically, they’ve stayed up to date by moving everything to HD and building a solid digital presence. You don’t just have to watch it on TV; you can stream everything through their website or use their apps on iPhone and Android. They’re also very active on YouTube and Facebook, which helps them reach a younger crowd who prefers watching on their phones rather than a traditional TV screen.