Victoria Racing Club Holding Out For Money From Racing Victoria Before Signing TV Rights

Victoria Racing Club "was still locked in negotiations over its TV rights on Wednesday night, ensuring the Sky Channel blackout would extend to a third day," according to Danny Russell of the HERALD SUN. The club is believed to be seeking A$8M ($6M) from Racing Victoria "before handing over its vision rights as part of a deal with the Seven Network for the next five years." Racing Victoria Ltd. Chair David Moodie and CEO Bernard Saundry "began talks with VRC officials to broker an agreement" on Wednesday. It is also believed the VRC, which stages the Melbourne Cup, "was seeking a slice of profits from race-fields revenue -- the money bookmakers pay to access fields." Once the VRC signs the deal, TV rights "will be handed to Seven, which has indicated it can telecast Victorian races on Channel 78 almost as soon as the deal is done." Melbourne Racing Club, Moonee Valley Racing Club and Country Racing Victoria "have already signed off on the deal" (HERALD SUN, 6/17).