Since the closure of TVN, participants and supporters of Victorian racing "have been left with no option for detailed coverage than to log into Racing Live; so that punters' data consumption has doubled and even trebled," according to Patrick Bartley of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. With many mobile phone and home Internet packages capped, "costs are soaring as a result of watching long periods of streaming vision." One Melbourne-based participant said, "My usual bill was A$140 ($107) a month let's say, but after the first month [of using] Racing Live, the bill was A$650 ($501). The only thing that changed from my regular use was watching Racing Live." Racing Live, "which is owned by the three major city clubs and country racing," is estimated to be losing A$40,000 ($30,800) to A$50,000 ($38,600) a week to keep the coverage going. Talks between Tabcorp and Victorian Racing clubs "will continue this week, but some racing officials are concerned that little progress has been made, with anti-Tabcorp members of the negotiating team remaining a considerable stumbling block to a deal being done" (SMH, 4/21).
