Tabcorp "is prepared to black-out vision of the strongest performing thoroughbred product" in its arsenal to maintain its hold over Victorian broadcast rights, according to Brendan Cormick of THE AUSTRALIAN. Less than 72 hours after Racing Victoria recommended the rights-holders partner with Seven West Media, "the gaming and wagering giant alerted the Australian Stock Exchange" on Tuesday that the interim broadcasting arrangements would cease next Monday if a formal offer made on June 1 was not accepted. Tabcorp, like Seven West Media, "is yet to receive a decision from RV and its member clubs" in relation to its offer of A$300M ($230M) over 10 years for domestic, digital and int'l broadcast rights. If the rights-holders partner with Seven West Media, "it will be August before telecasts commence on a dedicated digital channel." In the interim, Victorian racing will only be "streamed on the Racing.com website and its phone app" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/10). In Melbourne, Rod Nicholson wrote Tabcorp’s "shock ultimatum to block vision would deal a savage hit to wagering on Victorian racing and force those at home, in pubs and clubs to depend on an audio coverage." TabCorp, stunned that a new TV outlet is seriously challenging its hold on the Victorian racing scene, "has firmly drawn a line in the sand." The clubs -- the Victoria Racing Club, Melbourne Racing Club, Moonee Valley Racing Club and Country Racing Victoria -- "currently are considering their stance." However, TabCorp’s stance "adds urgency to looming board meetings, especially with TabCorp rejecting any more short-term arrangements to continue to show Victorian racing" and paying A$2M ($1.5M) a month for it (HERALD SUN, 6/9). Also in Melbourne, Patrick Bartley wrote after the "intense tug-of-war" of the last six months it seems it is "not so much about the package on offer but more the brinkmanship to stay in the fight." The "wagering giant has taken off the gloves in the past 24 hours and sent a clear message" that it is not prepared to concede defeat. And, yes, at the end of the day, "it will be a case of who blinks first." Tabcorp has "fired the first salvo, maintaining that it has waited two-and-a-half years for Victoria" to sign up to a 10-year deal worth A$300M. So when Racing Victoria signaled its "preferred option" of Seven West Media, Tabcorp "countered with a blow that could devastate Racing Victoria." It is "a bold step, a brave move, but that's part of the brinkmanship." The clubs "knew that Tabcorp could drop this bombshell" (THE AGE, 6/9).
