I believe the parent company of Direct TV owns TVG so I wouldn't think Direct TV would ever carry HRTV under the present ownership issues.

With that line of thinking expect HBO and Showtime to be taken off Directv when their contracts expire since Liberty owns Starz.

A few things jump out at me.
The thing that I didn't like about HRTV was the fact that it used to look like they were broadcasting a cable access show from someone's basement. Plus, the budget was so small that on weekdays/nights they would just play porno music between races instead of have any interviews/analysis. Hopefully they'll upgrade their staff and production crew to make it more watchable.
Has anyone seen the 5 on 5 show they have, giving analysis on the Magna 5?
Nice idea, but it's pretty unorganized and not that useful.
Plus, you would think the hosts would each create a Magna 5 ticket to explain their thinking, but they don't.

Also, If there's one network that owns the signal to every major track, there's only so many races they can show at once. They won't have the ability to show races from some of the 2nd and 3rd tier tracks on a Saturday, which could hurt handles at those tracks.

PP,

TVG may not have really factored into the deteriorating scenario as CDI seems to have been moving in their own direction for a while.. There have been rumors of a CDI betting platform/broadcast enterprise/project for at least the last 2 years.

Yeah, hopefully with this new venture they can buy some better focus cameras and a cameraman with a steady hand.

Hahaha, that is so true.

Just got an e-mail from The Twin Spires Club announcing its new wagering service... probably wait until I get home to check out.

I think the thing that you should be scared about as players is that because Magna and CDI have full control of so many major track signals, I expect them to jack up the rates to simulcast their signals which may lead to a fragmented industry where the smaller tracks/betting platforms(youbet/winticket,etc) just wont cover the Magna/CDI tracks or they will pass along the increase in price to you, the betters. The fact that a basic premise of Empire's NYRA proposal was to increase the takeout despite the $ windfall of the slots parlor is a bad sign. If you don't think that Magna/CDI wasn't signed on to that plan, think again. I constantly read about needs of growth from CDI and it always amazes me that their ideas always include either new technology or emerging markets rather than improving conditions of their existing customers. I don't care what you read, the far east will not ever bet any signifigant amounts of money into our pools because the time difference is too great, the lack of information on our races and the belief that our races lack the integrity that theirs do. As far as Europe, there may be room for some growth but why not try to grow handle from your existing customer instead of chasing foreign ones. I have learned that whenever the word 'paradigm' is used it is usually bad news for us.

Good points all around. :)

well my two cents is i believe tvg is in trouble. unless they do more quarterhorse. the other thing is it will probably get rid of the off shore bet accounts and rebates.

Yeah but CDI didn't really go their own way considering they bought half of HRTV and are sharing their signals with Magna and vice versa. I'm not a lawyer but it seems TVG could've struck a similar deal with CDI and shared, at least, their exclusives with twinspires.com.

I'm just really questioning the lack of vision the powers that be at TVG have. Without Magna and CDI tracks they've got very little to offer and potentially won't have the money to outbid their competitor when TVG's contracts with other tracks end.

shrupp with dark glasses and a tin cup..=priceless!!!!

I'm starting to think pointgiven1985 is shrupp. :D

TVG is SCREWED. www.twinspires.com will get my action based on the fact that I am guessing their reward program will be like Arlington's, and I will be able to wager using them while ON TRACK at Arlington.

I actually don't think Youbet is in trouble at all because they are a 3rd party in all of this. They have a half way decent relationship with Magna already and CDI. They are actually the OFFICIAL wagering platform of the Kentucky Derby.

That being said, odds on TVG talent showing up on HRTV??

Well since TVG is already available to over 20 million households (could be people, not gonna bother to double check) i'd say chances are CDI/Magna will buy TVG.

I hope so.

Don't think the FCC or whatever the committee is would allow that crap....

I am a huge fan of this move, even if I can't get HRTV yet.....

I would rather have the porno music than all that crap of so called analysis by complete morons like they do on TVG.At least on HRTV,they talk about interesting things before races,and not all that childish bullshit that TVG does.The ego's on that channel have gone unchecked for too long,and now they are going to be unemployed. GOOD!! All TVG ever promotes is"Play the Pick 4" and that's it and I get so tired of those idiots and their loser tickets.I don't care what they are playing,and if you are anywhere close to a decent horseplayer,you make your own picks,not use some "Tout's"picks.All those "Children" on TVG do is try to entice you to make a bet on their service,period.I would hope Frank Lyon's would get hired at HRTV,but the rest of them and their kiddie ways can stay.

It just depends on how much money CDI/Magna are willing to give the politicians.