Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing 2 and Sky World have lost the right to broadcast
NSW and Victorian thoroughbred horse racing from Thursday, December 18.
It means the scheduled meetings at Seymour in Victoria and Wyong in NSW today will only be seen on
TVN.
TVN, Australia’s premier thoroughbred racing network, will now be the
sole broadcaster of all metropolitan, provincial and country race meetings in NSW and Victoria.
Tabcorp, which operates the three Sky Racing channels, failed to agree on terms to renew its licence with TVN, whose owners are the metropolitan
Sydney and Victorian turf clubs, control the broadcasting rights to thoroughbred racing in NSW and Victoria.
Tabcorp released a statement which said.
"The previous long-term contract in place between Sky Racing and TVN expired on 31 December 2012."
"It has since formed the basis of multiple short-term rollover arrangements, while the parties worked to agree to a new, long-term arrangement. Sky Racing put an attractive package to TVN which has not been accepted.”
“Further, it is clear that another short-term rollover of existing arrangements will not deliver a long-term outcome."
Tabcorp said it remained committed to a successful outcome. "Sky Racing is committed to agreeing a long-term broadcast rights deal that underpins and supports wagering, which is the biggest source of funding for the racing industry."
TVN CEO, Bruce Mann said
“We are deeply disappointed that agreement could not be reached with Tabcorp after two years of protracted negotiation. We are looking for a “fair go” for our sport, in fact we were prepared to take less than what we currently receive today. Sky were simply unwilling to give us fair value for our rights.”
“Tabcorp is an important partner for the racing industry, but they have repeatedly attempted to drive down the value of broadcasting rights for Australia’s two premier thoroughbred racing states – a contradictory position to world-wide media rights trends.
Mr Mann said
“Their strategy has resulted in the loss of the rights that underpin Tabcorp’s highly profitable and successful media division”.
Consumers wishing to watch NSW and Victorian racing can do so through two options:
Live on TVN Channel 522 on Foxtel, which is available to all Residential Subscribers;
Live online and all hand-held devices being offered at no charge until the end of January 2015 through Racing Network (www.racingnetwork.com.au) which is TVN’s joint venture with Telstra, as well as other industry websites.
In addition, the Seven Network will continue to broadcast 25 premium race days per year.
To accommodate the majority of pubs and clubs,
TVN have received assistance from Foxtel/FOX SPORTS who are supporting the racing industry. Foxtel/FOX SPORTS will be providing their commercial venues with the TVN signal at no additional charge to them during this interim period.
TVN, which broadcasts NSW and Victorian thoroughbred racing, is jointly owned by the
Australian Turf Club (ATC), Victoria Racing Club (VRC), Melbourne Racing Club (MRC), Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) and Country Racing Victoria.
TVN also holds the media rights to NSW Country and Provincial Racing.