Sky Channel will end Victorian racing broadcasts from June 16.
The long-running battle over Victoria's racing media and vision rights took another turn on Tuesday when it was announced that Sky Channel would cease to televise Victorian racing from June 16.

For the first time in decades, Victorian racing will not be shown on pay TV or free-to-air after Tabcorp told the stock exchange that the interim broadcasting arrangements with Victorian Thoroughbred Racing would cease next Tuesday.

Racing Victoria has recommended to its stakeholders they sign with Seven West Media, but Fairfax Media understands the network will not be available to broadcast until August.

As part of the long-standing joint venture between Tabcorp and Racing Victoria, Australia's biggest wagering arm will telecast live only into its 100 TAB agencies. Vision of Victorian racing will not be available outside the state.

A Tabcorp statement said: "Tabcorp notes the announcement by Racing Victoria Limited on Saturday, June 6, 2015, that it is recommending to its four member racing clubs that its preferred outcome for the broadcast of Victorian thoroughbred racing is to partner with Seven West Media.

"Tabcorp made a formal offer on June 1, 2015, in accordance with a timetable agreed with RVL.

"At the same time as submitting its formal offer, Tabcorp gave notice that the current interim broadcasting arrangements with Victorian thoroughbred racing will cease on June 15, 2015."

Tabcorp said it had not received a decision from RV or its member clubs regarding their offer.

Racing Victoria is yet to comment on Tabcorp's decision which has the potential to cripple wagering on Victorian racing.

Those at home, in pubs and clubs and any other forum will have to make do with a radio description.

Racing.com is also streaming Victorian racing but for most that has become an extremely expensive pastime due to due to high data requirements.

NSW and the Australian Turf Club signed a deal with Tabcorp in January after NSW and Victoria chose to dissolve their joint ownership of TVN.

It's understood the Seven Network will not be taking on former on-air personalities from the beleaguered network.

With AAP, The Age

The sooner they have a national racing committee/overseer the better.

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You're right, that's a complete joke

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What it amounts too is TABCORP saying, "Marry me or I'll kill us both?".
It gets worse, the newly elected Queensland government have sacked the racing boards over the greyhound controversy. Not just the greyhound board but harness and gallops too. Like, where's the logic there. Now they'll be starting afresh with a whole lotta would be if they could be's

This disarray between states isn't just over media rights, its over racing materials and general racing all together.
Each state is pulling their own way. Each body has its own agenda. In the confusion the whole industry suffers.

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Agreed what a mess and it will massively hurt turnover.

Thee idiots are going to kill the golden goose and don't even know it.

http://www.racing.com/news/2015-06-...on-digital-only


So we get Channel 78 'FREE" but "WHEN" is the question.

Channel 7 already have the digital licence for channel 78. It was a shopping channel, Fresh Ideas TV, which they pulled off air, but they still retain the licence. Therefore all they need to do is flick the switch to provide coverage fed by oncourse cameras. They only need an outside broadcast van, but I would assume they will cut a deal with the tracks for a direct feed.

__________________
RaceCensus - powerful system testing software.
Now with over 399,000 Metropolitan, Provincial and Country races!
http://www.propun.com.au/horse_raci...ng_systems.html
*RaceCensus now updated to 31/03/2024
Video overview of RaceCensus here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W821YP_b0Pg

If your a "hands on" punter you need a live (or almost 1 or 2 secs). Anyone ever timed the delay when 7 broadcasts on a Saturday....Like reading yesterdays newspaper! Looks like the I've gotta blow the dust off the AM radio again.

Obviously RV Directors aren't involved with In Play betting or betting at all, for that matter. Just park their Beemers in the reserved parking at the track and get on the nibblies and bubbly, to be nice.

Right here is a big advantage and edge for someone in Vic who wants to take advantage of it.

Go to the track and bet in running on your phone.