Australia’s Tabcorp Launches New Pay TV Wagering Channels
7th October 2009 8:18 am GMT
As part of the company's long-term strategy to expand racing choice for its customers, Tabcorp's racing broadcaster, Sky Racing, will launch two new subscription TV channels in Australia next year, allowing for an expansion of wagering choice for TAB account customers in New South Wales and Victoria.
Sky Racing will launch the new channels in autumn 2010, the northern hemisphere's spring, in partnership with subscription TV providers FOXTEL and AUSTAR.
The new channels, Sky Racing2 and Sky Racing World, will de-congest the existing Sky Racing schedule and allow for an expansion of wagering choice on domestic and international races.
All three channels will feature TAB ACTIVE, Tabcorp's interactive wagering service which allows TAB account customers in New South Wales and Victoria to place bets using their FOXTEL remote control.
Sky Racing1 and Sky Racing2 will showcase the premier harness and greyhound events, while Sky Racing World will deliver a superior presentation of thoroughbred racing, featuring 12 hours of thoroughbred racing from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore and overnight racing from United Kingdom, South Africa and continental Europe.
In addition Sky Racing will implement a new code for advertising, which will cover the provision of wagering-related products and services on Sky Racing1, Sky Racing2 and Sky Racing World. The code of advertising policy will apply to all wagering operators and will be finalised once feedback is provided by regulators from around Australia.
The new price structure for the expanded Sky Racing offer will be announced closer to the launch of the new channels in autumn 2010, however Tabcorp said it intends to subsidise the cost of the new channels for its account customers.
"Sky Racing intends to create a platform for the presentation of racing that provides punters with choice and gives all racing codes the opportunity to present their product," said Robert Nason, Tabcorp's Managing Director of Wagering.
"The three Sky Racing channels will herald an era of greater coverage of Australian racing, expanded international racing and a superior global thoroughbred channel. Tabcorp has conducted extensive customer research and in providing expanded international racing coverage and more choice we will deliver what many regular punters have been asking for."
Tabcorp said it is in negotiations with providers in seven countries to increase the export and showcasing of Australian racing to more markets, in turn benefiting racing codes in Australia who will collect product fees from international wagering on their events.
"Sky is already taking Australian racing to 18 countries with six services every day. The addition of a first class showcasing service will provide more global viewers and higher returns for Australian and New Zealand thoroughbred industries," added Nason.
Sky Racing currently broadcasts to 2.2 million Australian homes and more than 5,000 commercial venues, with an average weekly Pay TV reach in excess of 700,000 viewers.
