Racing in Victoria will be streamed on free-to-air as early as Monday, following the VRC agreeing to terms with Racing Victoria, which subsequently sealed the deal with Seven West Media.
Channel 78 will show a simulcast of Racing.com’s coverage with the channel to officially launch on August 29th, on Memsie Stakes day at Caulfield.
Seven will transmit beam Victoria racing on Channel 78 across its national metropolitan network in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
The deal in place is for five years, broadcasting 24 hours a day.
The one piece of the puzzle not yet solved is Sky Racing. Racing Victoria are yet to secure a deal to return Victoria racing back on to Sky Racing’s wall-to-wall channels available in pubs, clubs, and on Foxtel.
The full press-release from Racing Victoria is below.
Racing Victoria (RV) has announced that the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has today formally committed to the Seven West Media proposal for the future broadcasting of Victorian thoroughbred racing.
The VRC joins the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC), the Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) and Country Racing Victoria (CRV) in committing to support the Seven West Media proposal.
With the industry’s media rights now aggregated, RV has today signed an agreement with Seven West Media to showcase Victorian thoroughbred racing nationally via a new, dedicated free-to-air channel, which will be integrated with a suite of streaming and digital services at Racing.com.
RV Chief Executive, Bernard Saundry, said, “This is an historic day for the industry with all the Victorian clubs now united in committing to support the Seven West Media proposal. This paves the way for the Victorian industry to achieve its future goal of ensuring that Victorian thoroughbred racing can be viewed in every lounge room and on every mobile phone across Australia.”
Seven West Media had proposed to launch its showcase free-to-air programming on Channel 78 on 29 August 2015 to coincide with the first Group 1 of the season – the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
In announcing the signing of the agreement, Mr Saundry stated that Seven West Media would now come to the rescue of punters, fans and participants by implementing an interim broadcast of Victorian thoroughbred races.
Seven West Media will begin broadcasting this week on its free-to-air Channel 78 to re-transmit the existing Racing.com coverage of Victorian thoroughbred racing as an interim measure whilst it commenced preparations for the launch of its premium coverage on the channel in late August.
Seven West Media will be able to transmit Channel 78 across its national metropolitan network in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Seven West Media will begin testing the Racing.com vision feed on Channel 78 this week.
With the agreement now in place, Seven West Media will be in a position to negotiate with its affiliates and with Foxtel with an aim of maximising the coverage throughout Australia at the earliest opportunity.
Mr Saundry thanked Seven West Media on behalf of the industry for moving swiftly to implement an interim coverage of Victorian thoroughbred racing and that RV was grateful for their support.
“We thank Seven West Media for the offer to establish an interim broadcast from this week as our agreement is not for the launch of the showcase channel until 29 August. The interim solution won’t be perfect. There will be people in regional areas that cannot access the interim coverage, but this is an important first step in getting our races back on television,” Mr Saundry.
“I can advise those punters, fans and participants in regional areas that we’ll be working with Seven West Media to extend the interim solution to them as quickly as possible, whilst also looking to re-engage with Tabcorp on an agreement to get Victorian racing back on to Sky Racing’s wall-to-wall channels.”
Mr Saundry explained that RV will continue to seek talks with Tabcorp Holdings on achieving its preferred media distribution model which involves both Seven West Media and Sky Racing with the goal of building a strong, sustainable future where current and future generations of fans and punters can access vision of Victorian thoroughbred racing whenever, wherever and however they choose.
Mr Saundry reiterated that RV is keen for Victorian thoroughbred racing to again be broadcast on Sky Racing 1 (Channel 519) into homes, pubs and clubs, in the immediate and long-term future.
Mr Saundry also confirmed that Victorian thoroughbred racing would continue to be streamed live and free across computers, tablets and mobiles via Racing.com, sportsbet.com.au and crownbet.com.au, and broadcast into the state’s 92 retail TAB agencies.
More to come.
Gary Redman
Guest
Fantastic to have this idea as was TVN to broadcast a channel devoted to horse racing. So much better than the rubbish sky throws up. Just watched get on and as always the best hours entertainment on TV. Huge wrap on Jason Richardson and David Gately. Keep up the good work!
Bondy
Guest
Just wondering also the "Official" start date to this station is on the 29'th of August Memsie Stk's Day , all of the major featured races for that period of time are in Sydney and not in Melbourne , racing in Melbourne really kicks off on or after Epsom Day in Sydney how are they going to deal with that as a company assuming they dont have the right to broadcast content form Sydney ? ...
Laraine
Guest
So how do we get channel 78. There isn't one person or club I have spoken to who have been able to get this channel to watch Victorian racing. For goodness sake, help us
Ron Smith
Roar Rookie
Watched this Racing Now Saturday 27/6 thought it was good. But did not have sound?????
Laraine
Guest
I agree. How do we get vision on channel 78?
Bob
Guest
Today is Saturday 27 June, and we still cant see any programs listed on Channel 78. Is it being broadcast yet? How can I view the Victorian Races today? Thanks !
Bob
Guest
Today is Saturday 27 June, and we still cant see any programs listed on Channel 78. Is it being broadcast yet? How can I view the Victorian Races today? Thanks !
Jason Cornell
Expert
And all Victorian owners just got this note from the CEO. An update from the CEO on the broadcasting of Victorian racing Dear Owner, I write to provide you with an update on the industry’s media rights and the current and future broadcasting arrangements for Victorian thoroughbred racing. I am pleased to advise that we have this week signed an agreement with Seven West Media to showcase Victorian thoroughbred racing nationally via a new, dedicated free-to-air channel, which will be integrated with a suite of streaming and digital services at Racing.com. Country Racing Victoria (CRV), the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC), Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) and Victoria Racing Club (VRC) are united in supporting the Seven West Media deal and have aggregated their media rights with Racing Victoria to achieve this. As an industry, we are committed to growing the audience for Victorian racing now and into the future so that we can generate further interest in our sport, boost returns to participants through increased wagering, drive ownership and breeding numbers and encourage attendance at race meetings across the state. We want the broadest possible distribution model for our racing so that you and future generations of punters, fans and participants can watch and enjoy Victorian racing whenever, wherever and however you choose. Our partnership with Seven West Media is an investment in the future. It is a unique and exciting opportunity for vision of Victorian racing to be accessible, free-of-charge, in lounge rooms right across Australia, as well as on every mobile phone via Racing.com. Not only does the partnership with Seven West Media broaden our reach, it allows us to enhance the quality of coverage of Victorian thoroughbred racing and showcase the many great stories and personalities within our sport which has been missing since TVN ceased broadcasting. Seven West Media is contracted to launch its showcase free-to-air programming on Channel 78 on Saturday, 29 August 2015 to coincide with the first Group 1 of the season – the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. I’m pleased and appreciative that Seven West Media has recognised that the options for punters, fans and participants to view Victorian racing is currently restricted and they have agreed to implement an interim broadcast from tomorrow - Friday, 26 June 2015. It is a valued gesture by Seven West Media to facilitate an interim broadcast as our agreement is not for the launch of their showcase channel until 29 August. Channel 78 will re-transmit the existing Racing.com coverage of our races daily from Friday as an interim measure whilst Seven West Media tests the distribution network and commences preparations for the launch of its premium coverage on the channel in late August. Seven West Media will be able to transmit Channel 78 across its national metropolitan network in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth from Friday. With the long-term broadcast agreement signed for Channel 78, we are continuing to work with Seven West Media on extending the coverage to regional areas and Foxtel as soon as possible. When the test broadcast goes live into metropolitan markets on Friday, there will be many people that can access Channel 78 immediately, there are others who will need to tune their television to it and there are those with older televisions, in particular those purchased prior to 2009, that will need a set-top box or Personal Video Recorder (PVR) to enjoy the broadcast. This broadcast won’t reach all markets in the test period. There will be people in regional areas that cannot access the interim re-transmission of Racing.com on Channel 78. Punters, fans and participants in regional areas should be assured that they are an important part of Seven West Media’s broadcast plans for its showcase coverage once officially launched. Our goal remains to showcase Victorian thoroughbred racing to the widest possible audience. As you are aware, Sky Racing has chosen not to show Victorian races on their network since last Tuesday, 16 June 2015. We see Sky Racing as an important part of our future media distribution model and we are very keen for Victorian racing to be broadcast on Sky Racing’s wall-to-wall channels (519 and 520) into pubs, clubs and homes, both now and into the future. We have re-commenced discussions this week with Tabcorp, the owners of Sky Racing, with a view to ending the Sky Racing blackout as soon as possible. These discussions are on-going and a further update will be provided once a resolution is reached. All Victorian races are currently being streamed live and free across computers, tablets and mobiles via Racing.com, sportsbet.com.au and crownbet.com.au, and broadcast into the state’s 92 retail TAB agencies. This will continue into the future. Our digital broadcast agreements with wagering operators are part of our desire to ensure that punters can watch Victorian racing whenever, wherever and however they choose. To that end, the number of viewers to date on Sportsbet and CrownBet, along with Racing.com, has been very pleasing. I appreciate that the current broadcast arrangements may not be accessible for all, however we trust that you will see the exciting opportunities and benefits of embarking on a partnership with Seven West Media to grow interest and participation in Victorian thoroughbred racing. CLICK TO READ FAQs ON HOW TO WATCH THE INTERIM CHANNEL 78 BROADCAST CLICK TO VIEW REGIONS THAT WILL RECEIVE INTERIM CHANNEL 78 BROADCAST I wish you every success on the track. Yours sincerely, Bernard Saundry Chief Executive
Jason Cornell
Expert
Here we go! http://rv.racing.com/news/2015-06-25/media-rights-update
Bondy
Guest
Its almighty task that C78 are taking on without the other important State's content involved .. Would C7 continue to bother with their broadcast on their main channel through the Spring Carnival that would be interesting with the existing C78 ??? .
Tristan Rayner
Editor
No worries - where are you based? Big cities should get it very soon, if not already.
Laraine
Guest
Thankyou Tristan because at the moment it is difficult to find..
Tristan Rayner
Editor
HI Laraine - a simulcast on Channel 78 of Racing.com should be live within days. The official launch, with its own complete programming, is end of August.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Michael - it depends where you are located. Regional stations are coming soon. You should just do a re-tune of your TV - if the station is there, it will be there.
Laraine
Guest
I am pretty sure it hasn't been set up as yet. we have to go thru Racing.com until the set up which is end of August
Michael Ellis
Guest
I have just tried to locate channel 78 on my current model TV. The station is not listed. Is there anything I must do to have access?
Tristan Rayner
Editor
It's not a good look.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Lovely sentiment!
no one in particular
Roar Guru
And race clubs have nobody to blame but themselves for the Sky coverage. They saw the dollars with the various TAB’s privatisations and sold their soul
Cudoit
Guest
Right on cue, three pages in todays Herald Sun about yet another AFL footballer Brent Guerra losing 400K gambling on the ponies. They're gonna have a field day when this takes off.