RACING Victoria's bold move to create its own television station became a reality on Tuesday when Channel 78 was launched at the studios of the Seven Network.

PATRICK BARTLEY reports for THE AGE that despite only having a short amount of time in which to assemble the station, it seems both parties, Seven West Media and RVL, are determined to make it work.

Some of Sevens' stars will be on track on Saturday at Caulfield to launch the channel including Bruce McAvaney and Hamish McLachlan as well as high-rating radio personality Ross Stevenson.

Former AFL premiership player Campbell Brown and one-time Hong Kong form student Clint Hutchinson will also play a roll on the network as will talented compere Jason Richardson who will come aboard as one of the hosts alongside RSN presenter Warren Huntly.

RVL and Seven are keen to make Channel 78 a brand new racing network that will attract new viewers as well as new punters.

"The launch of the free-to-air racing.com channel achieves the goal of the Victorian thoroughbred racing industry to make our sport available to more people in more places than ever before," Racing Victoria chairman David Moodie said.

Moodie described the launch of Channel 78 as exciting, brave and a step forward for Racing Victoria.

"It's the start of a new era for Victorian thoroughbred racing and one that provides us with a foundation for growth in engagement, participation, ownership, wagering and attendance.

"Racing.com will showcase Victorian racing 363 days a year to well over 90 per cent of the Australian population.

"The industry's partnership with Seven is a great result for racing fans, punters and participants," he said.

And Channel Seven Melbourne managing director Lewis Martin told the media there would be an excellent on-air group of presenters.

"We are pleased to confirm that we have secured some terrific people for racing.com and we are well advanced in our plans to further expand our coverage of racing over the coming months," he said.

Australian online bookmaker CrownBet has announced it will be the premier waging partner of Racing Victoria and the Seven Network for the racing.com broadcast and online platforms for the next 16 months.

RVL decided not to go with Sky Channel, electing instead to take their own media rights and place them with their own station instead of going with the Tabcorp broadcasting model.  

Since New South Wales broke away from Victoria over TVN, many expected both states to sign with Australia's largest wagering company.

However RVL forged ahead with a new model in partnership with the Seven Network.

It's understood that the architects of Channel 78 were strongly opposed to any connection with the ill-fated TVN model that was closed down on March 15 after proving one of the most expensive white elephants in sports broadcasting history.

Former TVN tipster David Gately and radio host Shane Anderson are also involved in the new channel.