Racing Victoria Inks Seven West Media Free-To-Air Deal

Racing Victoria has signed an agreement with Seven West Media that would see Victorian thoroughbred racing presented on a "dedicated channel on the network's digital ­platform" until '20, according to Brendan Cormick of THE AUSTRALIAN. The Victoria Racing Club joined with the Melbourne Racing Club, Moonee Valley Racing Club and Country Racing Victoria in approving RV to "sign a five-year deal it will underwrite for Seven to screen 520 race meetings annually on free-to-air TV nationwide." Some of the establishment cost of between A$10M ($7.76M) and A$15M ($11.65M) will be "offset by the racing industry's on-course production unit, while the new coverage will get cross-network promotion and bring advertising revenue." The launch date for the channel is the last Saturday in August. Channel 78 will "simulcast the coverage being streamed on the industry-owned website, racing.com." Tabcorp's Sky Racing "is likely to be ­invited to renegotiate for the overseas rights" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/22).