With news that Racing Channel TVN was planning to move from Foxtel to free-to-air digital, I got a little bit excited.
Mainly due to the fact that there was talk that racing would become a permanent fixture on free-to-air television. As a passionate racing enthusiast it means that one of my favourite sports is going to be gaining a lot more exposure then it currently gets.
In fact it’s almost a certainty that the move to the digital spectrum would bring about the largest exposure that the sport has ever had, and with the media company owned by the Australian Turf Club it’s time that it takes advantage of this opportunity.
As it stands TVN costs $20 million each year to run. It is failing miserably by only reaching 30 per cent of their audience through Foxtel. The good news out of all of this is the contract is set to run out at the end of next year’s spring racing carnival.
They also have a partnership deal with Channel Seven that allows the free-to-air broadcaster the opportunity to broadcast 20 meetings during the spring carnival. These are generally feature race days, and give those who can’t afford subscription TV to watch the best races Australia has to offer.
There is no way that TVN can continue in its current format on Foxtel paying the amount that it does to receive such little viewership. Plus with the growing number of free-to-air channels it is unlikely to cause any problem to the current viewership of Channel Seven.
Any decision though will have to be made by their new chief executive Bruce Mann who brings a vast amount of experience in negotiating television rights. My biggest concern however is whether TVN is capable of doing justice to its coverage.
At the moment prior to races TVN is interested in showing runners in the mounting yard, which is all well and good, but in that time there is also enough opportunity to get a good word out of the trainers prior to the race.
Furthermore the broadcaster signed an agreement to the rights of provincial races in NSW in June 2012 which took until December 24 to finalise. Yet to this day TVN still haven’t taken over the broadcasting of these races.
While I’m excited about the possibility of racing transitioning onto free-to-air television, I’m also wary that TVN has a long way to go before they finalise the move to the digital landscape.
bigfoot
Guest
whatever happens just leave that darn Richo out of it he spoils a great show Get On with his stupid idiotic laughter and all his stupid tipping contests I start off in a good mind set each week to watch it but he never fails too get the blood pressure up good job Gator Brett and Shark cheers Bigfoot
Bondy
Guest
MAX The only thing good about Sky is Retro with Duff and Freedman blewing I wouldn't watch otherwise ... The Sydney firm on TVN talk as if punters for punters, for mine ....
MAX
Guest
The Sydney crew of TVN 522 are an embarrassment to racing and muted to D grade in comparison with their Melbourne counterparts whom actually try to present racing with some degree of professionalism. It may be noted that there is no complaint with the female presenters. Foxtel Sky 519 to 521 do an excellent job and are far superior in understanding racing and its audience. TVN may even turn a profit if they engaged the right personnel and know how of Sky.
Drew H
Guest
Remember how method it was listening to 3UZ? It worked like a machine. Even those tunes were method. It must work like a machine for punters to be satisfied. Are they using the multitude of media systems to cover the field? .... NO.
kv joef
Roar Guru
Agree with much of the above. in the U.S most of the broadcast clubs subscribe to and broadcast 'Racing Night School' which offers excellent insights to varied handicapping styles and betting strategies. these progs are also available on Utube. also worth noting is that US coverage includes plenty of racing-knowledgeable women. many of their tip-shows are form drill-downs. the US tried the bimbo thing a decade ago ... who could ever forget the 'twins from thistledown (racetrack)' ... weren't quite sure whether you were watching a racing program or a trailer for 'playboy after dark'.
Rock
Guest
I actually really enjoy Sevens coverage at the moment, Simon and (I can't remember the presenters name) do a good job. It's not as in depth as tv but I think for a commercial coverage does the job for both racing enthusiasts and novices alike.
Mike from Tari
Guest
No Qld coverage & a big chunk of your audience are not watching, I'm in Qld & I watch Sky Racing as I can watch all racing on Saturdays, Sundays (when the footy season is over), I can't stand the Melbournecentric commentators, I'd rather put up with Richie than them.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Yeah if they can find the good mix between finding that expert analysis and not over doing the cross promotion they might have themselves a winner. It's just I don't really care to much for My kitchen Rules and all that jazz, if people are watching the races that's what we want to see!
Bondy
Guest
Good look'n bird with a brain for horses there aren't to many of them on tele ...
Allanthus
Guest
I agree with both of you that the racing aspect of Seven's coverage isn't too bad at all. Francesca is a winner on every count and Bruce is in his element as host. But all the time given over to cross promotion, wannabe celebrities and mindless carp does my head in and we don't see enough of the horses.
Cameron Rose
Expert
I'm with you on that one! She's got it all!
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Yeah obviously what they provide is great at the moment, but I still think they can step it up. I saw plenty on twitter last weekend regarding no interviews with a few key trainers pre-race which really set a few people off. I actually enjoy the commercial coverage on Channel Seven during the spring, one of the few chances to see Francesca Cumani ;)
Cameron Rose
Expert
I don't know anything about the behind-the-scenes mechanics or finances, but I think TVN does a great job. Broader exposure always means dumbing down, and it generally means getting true followers of a sport upset because coverage needs to be 'tricked up' to keep the interest of the newcomers.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Hi Allanthus, Some great points there I think initially the audience might grow as there are plenty of people that I know who have a great interest in racing but don't get the chance to watch it because they simply don't have foxtel. I'm not expecting them to dumb down the coverage because they shouldn't have to, but as you can they can't keep bleeding cash the way they are going. I agree that three different coverages are too many but I feel the commercial coverage during the carnival is to suit the novice punter, while TVN's coverage is as you say for punters and owners with an interest. Sadly out of all of this I think it's just a ploy for Channel Seven to be able to gain a wagering license in the near future, to make extra revenue.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
One of the great things about this is the coverage will be free. I work in a TAB in Canberra and a lot of the older folks who live in a retirement village can't watch the races as it's on Foxtel. For them this is gold if it happens.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
One of life's biggest mysteries. Probably one of the reasons that it was struggling for a long time.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Hi Brent There are some interesting challenges ahead. TVN caters for those purely interested in the racing, there is an assumed knowledge on the part of their viewership, no effort to explain things or dumb things down to attract newcomers. Which is fine for me. But that specific audience is small, and smaller still when you exclude people who don't have Foxtel. Obviously they can't go on forever bleeding cash. If they move into a free for air, commercial channel environment that is obviously good for those without pay TV but the risk is that the coverage will morph into something that tries to appeal to a wider audience, and end up satisfying nobody. By far the bulk of TVN's coverage is bread and butter, daily meetings where the only people watching are those with an ownership or betting interest. That would remain the same no matter who/how/where the coverage sits - viewers aren't suddenly going to spring our from the ether and start watching something they have no reason to watch. The reality is that the three tiers of coverage (Sky, TVN and and commercial during the feature carnivals) is too many, it was always too many when the whole row started and obviously things aren't getting any better financially for the racing industry. The day of rationalisation is coming, I just hope that the eventual outcome is a product that allows me to still watch the races I want to watch, with suitable pre-race and post-race analysis and without c-grade soapie actors and celebrity tipsters anywhere within cooee.
Nugget
Guest
Delighted to hear they might be going free to air. I've had enough of Foxtel's overcharging and am about to cancel it. Go TVN!
Bondy
Guest
If TVN is owned by the ATC why is it predominantly hosted by people from Melbourne.If its owned by the ATC shouldnt it be hosted by Sydney people ...