Sky Channel will be asked to shelve a A$5 ($4) a month subscription for its extra two channels "when it seizes the rights to racing in NSW in a move designed to mirror the free premium content structure offered by beleaguered broadcaster TVN," according to Pengilly & Bartley of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. In a "rare win for increasingly frustrated punters" caught in the middle of racing's TV war, Racing NSW CEO Peter V'landys confirmed that "it would negotiate a new long-term agreement with Sky and Foxtel only on the premise that all vision was provided free." It comes "after speculation that TVN, which will surrender the rights to NSW racing after the northern faction walked away from the broadcaster on Christmas Eve, will go into administration was eased on Sunday." TVN's debt rests in the "tens of millions of dollars." V'landys said that "the imminent deal with Sky to carry the rights to all NSW racing would only be brokered without the product attracting an additional fee." V'landys: "When you watch racing, 95 percent of the people that watch racing have had a bet. ... Charging them twice would be despicable because they're already contributing through wagering and they should get it for free." It would mean Foxtel, which is believed to pocket the majority of the A$5 charge, "would have to waive the fee for Sky 2 and Sky Racing World." Both channels "were added to the pay TV service in 2010" (SMH, 12/28).
