Tuesday, 6 October 2009: Punters will be asked to pay for new premium racing channels to be introduced to the Australian market next year.
Sky Racing will launch two new channels in the first half of 2010 through Foxtel and Austar that will expand coverage of the three racing codes.
Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing 2 and Sky Racing World will give subscribers the choice of watching the best racing across the three codes.
The pricing structure for the new channels will be announced at a later date but the costs will subsidised for TAB account holders with the aim of extracting fees from punters who bet with corporate bookmakers.
Tabcorp managing director of wagering Robert Nason said the fees will ensure some cost contribution to racing vision is made by customers of wagering operators who currently get a free ride on the racing industry.
“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,” Nason said.
“We will deliver what many regular punters have been asking for.”
Sky Racing 1 and Sky Racing 2 will be the core wagering channels and will provide vision of all races.
The launch of Sky Racing 2 will de-congest the existing racing schedule on one channel and allow for expanded coverage of more domestic and international races and premier harness and greyhound events.
Sky Racing World will deliver a dedicated presentation of thoroughbred racing from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore and overnight racing from United Kingdom, South Africa and continental Europe.
Commercial venues (TAB agencies, hotels and clubs) will receive Sky Racing 1 and Sky Racing 2.
An advertising code will be introduced by Sky Racing that will apply to all wagering operators, an indication that advertising may be accepted from other betting agencies other than Tabcorp.
