Tabcorp's exclusive 10-year deal for NSW racing "could see its broadcasting arm, Sky Channel, become the sole racing station as early as March 1 as NSW and Victorian shareholders work towards winding up beleaguered broadcaster TVN by the end of February," according to Adam Pengilly of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. While TVN's shareholders remained tight-lipped on Wednesday about its closure, "it is believed that February 28, which will showcase group 1 racing in both Sydney (Chipping Norton Stakes) and Melbourne (Blue Diamond and Futurity Stakes), has been discussed as the preferred option for the broadcaster's last day on air." NSW racing "will then exclusively be shown on Sky following Tabcorp's announcement on Wednesday that it had signed a long-term agreement for the rights to NSW thoroughbred racing," believed to be worth up to A$25M ($20M) a year plus incentives. There "is a 10-year option for that deal to be extended between the parties." TVN CEO Bruce Mann did not return calls on Wednesday,
"while other shareholders claimed the only priority was to find
employment opportunities for affected TVN employees." Regardless,
plans are "well under way for Sky to host a boutique channel on its Sky
Racing World format, including NSW, Victorian and Queensland racing." Under
the terms of the Sky agreement for NSW rights, the A$5 monthly
subscription fee for Sky Racing World and Sky Racing 2 "will be scrapped,
with the former channel to revert to Foxtel's base package" (SMH, 1/28).
