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  #1  
Old 02-18-2015, 11:00 AM
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joeydb joeydb is offline
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Can I be an optimist here, since my cable company carries TVG but not HRTV, that I will get the complete lineup on my existing TVG channel?
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Old 02-18-2015, 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by joeydb View Post
Can I be an optimist here, since my cable company carries TVG but not HRTV, that I will get the complete lineup on my existing TVG channel?
Im praying that they get another channel. They could have 1 channel with all the talking heads pushing their tickets for the feature tracks. Then have another channel that just shows the races from everywhere else not named, Aqueduct, Belmont, Saratoga, Gulfstream, Keeneland, Santa Anita & Delmar.
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Old 02-18-2015, 11:49 AM
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VOL JACK VOL JACK is offline
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Originally Posted by MaTH716 View Post
Im praying that they get another channel. They could have 1 channel with all the talking heads pushing their tickets for the feature tracks. Then have another channel that just shows the races from everywhere else not named, Aqueduct, Belmont, Saratoga, Gulfstream, Keeneland, Santa Anita & Delmar.
Yeah, sounds like a plan to me.
The constant ticket pushing is really played out.
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  #4  
Old 02-18-2015, 04:53 PM
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Left Bank Left Bank is offline
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Originally Posted by MaTH716 View Post
Im praying that they get another channel. They could have 1 channel with all the talking heads pushing their tickets for the feature tracks. Then have another channel that just shows the races from everywhere else not named, Aqueduct, Belmont, Saratoga, Gulfstream, Keeneland, Santa Anita & Delmar.
There already is one. It's called RTN network, and it is fabulous. https://www.rtn.tv/
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  #5  
Old 02-19-2015, 01:49 AM
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Easy Goer Otis Easy Goer Otis is offline
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There already is one. It's called RTN network, and it is fabulous. https://www.rtn.tv/
Agreed. Can get lost watching replays and finding horses to watch for hours on RTN. Their user interface screens are simple and quick.

I personally believe the future of televised horse racing will flow through gaming systems like PS4. For example, Sony is working on an Oculus Rift type virtual reality gaming mask called Morpheus. Jockeys will wear helmet cameras that pipe the live feed into your mask and YOU will be able to ride the horse you bet and truly experience the excitement of racing. Maybe add some wearable technology like a vest that rumbles along with the hoof vibrations, sensing increasing or declining speed.

If exchange wagering ever becomes a reality, this idea goes up another step function. Betting against your friends and then donning the mask and racing each other.

After a few beers one night, I sketched out a very rudimentary business model of this concept for tracks if anyone in that part of the industry is interested. This type of thing might get them out to the racecourse to try it out this new exoerience, maybe in some 4D cinema chairs with a betting console in front of them, with a bar and a stage.

This idea will likely filter into all live sporting events. Would you like to be Tom Brady or Russell Wilson? Working title: Immersi-cam

Cheers!

O
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  #6  
Old 02-19-2015, 02:03 AM
Mike A Mike A is offline
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With no cable or dish, I have an HRTV subscription, I chrome-cast to the TV.
With TVG now pretty much a monopoly I'm wondering if I'll be stuck with
the lower level tracks.
Anybody know if TVG has or will offer subscriptions? If so can it be streamed to a big screen?
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  #7  
Old 02-19-2015, 06:51 AM
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HRTV President Scott Daruty on ATR 9:30 with as many answers as can be addressed..
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Old 02-19-2015, 10:21 AM
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What would be cool for one of these stations to do, is to have a half hour show here or there, during non racing hours, that showed replays of various great performances, be it big stakes, or impressive obscure performances from ages ago, etc. Even maybe take in requests from fans/customers.
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  #9  
Old 02-19-2015, 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Kasept View Post
HRTV President Scott Daruty on ATR 9:30 with as many answers as can be addressed..
30+ min. visit with Daruty covering merger, Vegas, Mid-Atlantic
http://www.thoroughbredracingradione...d=25&Itemid=41
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  #10  
Old 02-19-2015, 03:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike A View Post
With no cable or dish, I have an HRTV subscription, I chrome-cast to the TV.
With TVG now pretty much a monopoly I'm wondering if I'll be stuck with
the lower level tracks.
Anybody know if TVG has or will offer subscriptions? If so can it be streamed to a big screen?
I sent an email to HRTV early in 2014 regarding getting their streaming product on ROKU. I was told they were working on it and it would be in place by the end of the year. I was skeptical, and they have yet to put their product on ROKU. It seems to me that the perfect platform for TVG/HRTV are streaming devices like ROKU, Apple TV, and Amazon's Fire TV products. Many cable companies don't offer both channels, and if they do, they require an extra subscription. By making their streaming products available on these streaming devices, they would be able to reach a much larger audience. Personally, I do not want to watch the races on a computer. I have tried the HRTV to Chromecast thing, and while it works. the quality of the stream on the Chromecast is not that great. I have a ROKU device and subscribe to both NBA League Pass, and MLB Extra Innings, and the quality is excellent and it's in very good quality HD. If TVG/HRTV wants to get an HD signal out to customers, make it available on these streaming devices. It's a no brainer.
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  #11  
Old 02-19-2015, 04:15 PM
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great the toolbags from tvg who have given us a reason to get hrtv now run the whole show..rtn..could be the only way out..if they keep shrupp and corrothers and **** can anyone from hrtv..its a criminal act..wonder how the people at xpress bet slept last night?
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  #12  
Old 02-18-2015, 12:01 PM
robfla robfla is offline
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Originally Posted by joeydb View Post
Can I be an optimist here, since my cable company carries TVG but not HRTV, that I will get the complete lineup on my existing TVG channel?
.

I have DirecTV and I'm thinking the same way.
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  #13  
Old 02-18-2015, 01:55 PM
rocknrowl rocknrowl is offline
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Originally Posted by robfla View Post
.

I have DirecTV and I'm thinking the same way.
I have DirectTV also, expanding the tracks on TVG would be great.

Maybe we even get to see Churchill Downs on TVG?
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  #14  
Old 02-18-2015, 02:01 PM
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As someone who really prefers the HRTV on air staff, format and extra shows, this merger sucks.
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  #15  
Old 02-21-2015, 10:17 AM
Patrick333 Patrick333 is offline
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As someone who really prefers the HRTV on air staff, format and extra shows, this merger sucks.
I couldn't agree with you more. IMHO TVG's on-air staff is horrible.
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  #16  
Old 02-22-2015, 11:47 AM
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I watched both channels yesterday (Sat) and noticed some changes immediately. First, TVG wasted no time taking all the premium feeds from SA and GP and relegating HRTV to the RCN simulcast feeds. They also grabbed Caton Bredar, both of which upgraded their broadcast at the expense of HRTV. HRTV was seriously downgraded and looked like a minor-league channel. All of the good things the did over the years were mostly gone. They both did basically the same events, so I think the had less coverage than before.

The TVG announcers did seem to avoid insane Pick 4 mythical bets during most of the stakes, which was welcome. HRTV does do Pick 4's with Kurt Hoover, Brad Free and Jon White at points, but I really like them because they actually bet them with their own money. However, as soon as the Risen Star was over the went tight back into it again.

I feel bad for the talent the amassed at HRTV. They've got some really good people to and listen to. They only way I though this would work w as for them take all the content from HRTV and move it to TVG and bring all the HDTV and expand it the the track at SA and GP by a long term agreement. Have the TVG crew doing the small tracks.

On my cable, TVG is about 15 hours per day of infomercials.

I think the horseplayer definitely loses on this one. Plus I just renewed HrTV for 2 years, so I'm kind of getting ripped off.
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  #17  
Old 02-23-2015, 12:27 PM
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bredar making shrupp and la duscha look like the dart throwers they are..
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  #18  
Old 02-23-2015, 02:10 PM
Rudeboyelvis Rudeboyelvis is offline
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Originally Posted by jnunan4759 View Post
On my cable, TVG is about 15 hours per day of infomercials.

I think the horseplayer definitely loses on this one. Plus I just renewed HrTV for 2 years, so I'm kind of getting ripped off.
I watched TVG yesterday for a few hours and found C. Bredar a positive addition to the broadcast.

I was surprised to find that even though they now feature Gulfstream Park, they are still incessantly filling and missing live posts. They are basically live at GP, AQU, SA and will only show a live race from elsewhere if it doesn't impact some prepackage fill.

There is no reason to show Tampa Bay Downs on tape delay when you are only covering 3 frigging tracks. I'm certain most bettors would opt for a live racing call vs. a real time post parade of 10k claimers at Aqueduct. Senseless. Hopefully they can bring in a producer that has a clue.
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Old 02-18-2015, 02:36 PM
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Hoping for the best, but my experience with tvg,is that they are a monopolistc otfit. where i live, no ADW chioice but tvg. and their promotions are anemic at best, wish it would have icluded expressbet to partake of their active promotions for customers. we shall see.
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  #20  
Old 02-18-2015, 02:52 PM
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Much more detail from Hegarty..

TVG acquires lone television competitor HRTV
By Matt Hegarty

Television Games Network, the most widely distributed live-racing broadcast channel in the U.S., has acquired its only television broadcast competitor, HRTV, and will gain the exclusive broadcast rights for the racetracks owned by the Stronach Group for seven years, the companies announced Wednesday.

The acquisition is likely to be greeted warmly by TVG’s existing customers, allowing for live television broadcasts of races from Santa Anita in Southern California and Gulfstream Park in Florida for the first time in a decade. TVG, owned by the British-based exchange-wagering company Betfair, is currently available in 35 million households, and it typically broadcasts six to eight live races an hour from racetracks across the country.

Scott Daruty, the president of HRTV, said that both networks will continue to operate, but that the networks will be coordinated out of TVG’s Los Angeles headquarters and will no longer carry the same programming. Daruty likened the arrangement to ESPN and ESPN2.

“I think this is a very good thing for the racing industry,” Daruty said. “We’ll no longer be showing the same thing on both channels, and the best content will be available to everyone.”

However, Daruty acknowledged that TVG does not yet have any agreements with satellite or cable networks guaranteeing the addition of a new channel. HRTV has limited distribution compared with TVG, which is available in sports packages on both DirecTV and Dish Network and many national cable providers. Though Daruty said details have not yet been worked out on which tracks will be broadcast on which network, it’s likely that TVG will carry the most popular signals due to its much wider distribution.

TVG and HRTV both use live broadcasts of races to drive betting to their associated account-wagering platforms. While TVG’s account-wagering operation carries the same name, HRTV promoted the account-wagering operation XpressBet, owned by the Stronach Group. XpressBet, which provides account-wagering services to Daily Racing Form, is not a part of the transaction.

In a letter to its employees obtained by DRF, HRTV officials said they began exploring a “merger” with TVG because of concerns over HRTV’s ability to secure broader television distribution for the Stronach Group’s racing signals.

“Satellite and cable networks have continued to consolidate, making it harder to persuade them to carry and show two separate horse-racing networks,” the letter said. “This consolidation of carriers looks to be an accelerating trend. Therefore, we felt that the best way to assure continued, and even expanded, viewership of our horse race tracks was to enter discussions with TVG to seek to combine our respective networks.”

TVG will pay the Stronach Group $25 million initially for HRTV’s assets, according to a release from Betfair, a publicly traded company. The deal also will require TVG to pay ongoing fees to the Stronach Group for the broadcast rights to its racetracks, which Betfair estimated at $48 million over the next seven years.

Officials for both companies stressed that TVG’s effort to obtain high-definition slots with satellite and cable providers was an important component of the deal to merge. TVG has built an HD studio at its headquarters in Los Angeles and has urged racetrack partners to upgrade to HD equipment, though it has not yet been successful in gaining an HD slot on either major satellite provider or outside of several small local cable markets.

“I have to say that I’m extremely impressed with their state-of-the-art studio,” Keith Brackpool, chairman of the Stronach Group’s West Coast operations, told the California Horse Racing Commission at a meeting Wednesday. “At The Stronach Group, we’ve spent a lot of money for facilities for live racing. It was starting to become a fairly obvious marriage here. The last three months of putting this together have been extraordinarily complicated. We’re excited about it.”

HRTV was started in 2003 as a competitor to TVG, which was then the only horse-racing network on television. At the time, HRTV was owned by Magna Entertainment, a publicly traded company controlled by owner-breeder Frank Stronach that later went bankrupt. The Stronach Group acquired the company as part of an acquisition by Stronach of the assets of Magna Entertainment’s successor, MID, which also went bankrupt.

In 2013, according to Betfair, HRTV had revenue of $9.5 million from rights fees and advertising and a pretax loss of $3 million, with assets valued at $2.5 million. One of HRTV’s largest revenue sources was TVG, which paid HRTV $4.3 million a year for the rights to broadcast signals controlled by HRTV on its account-wagering platform.

“This deal strengthens TVG’s position as a significant player in the U.S. horse-racing industry, bringing together the U.S.’s leading racetracks under a single TV network for the first time,” said Breon Corcoran, Betfair’s chief executive, in the release announcing the transaction. The release said that Betfair believed the deal would be “revenue neutral” for the company based on higher handle on the Stronach Group signals.

Churchill Downs Inc. acquired a 50 percent share in HRTV in 2007 when it began building its account-wagering company, twinspires.com. Churchill sold its half-share back to the Stronach Group last year as part of a deal giving the Stronach Group the rights to operate Calder Race Course’s racing operations for the next six years. Twinspires.com has gone on to become the U.S.’s largest account-wagering company.

Churchill Downs Inc. also owns Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Arlington Park in Chicago, and Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Officials of Churchill Downs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Santa Anita and Gulfstream have always been two of the most popular signals in the country among bettors, but the two tracks’ importance on the national racing scene had expanded over the last year due to upheavals on each track’s racing circuit. In 2013, Hollywood Park closed, allowing Santa Anita to pick up an additional two months of racing dates each year. In Florida, the deal between the Stronach Group and Churchill Downs Inc. has resulted in Gulfstream expanding its meet from four months a year to 10 months.

In its letter to employees, HRTV said some of its current employees would be offered positions at the combined network or other jobs at the Stronach Group, though others will be let go “where the right role is not available.”

In contrast to TVG, which devoted almost all of its airtime to live racing broadcasts and commentary, HRTV broadcast numerous pre-produced features on racing topics and the sport’s history. The network won three Eclipse Awards for programs produced by the network’s staff and an additional two Eclipse Awards for independently produced broadcasts that aired on the network.

Betfair acquired TVG in 2009 as part of a strategy to gain a foothold in the U.S. in case exchange wagering or other forms of gambling were legalized. The acquisition has allowed Betfair to lobby state legislatures for bills approving exchange wagering, efforts that have been successful in California and New Jersey.

Despite the passage of those bills, Betfair has not been able to launch exchange wagering in California due to a lack of agreement between all racing constituencies in the state, while its effort in New Jersey has been stalled by a delay in approving rules to govern exchange wagering. In addition, many legal experts have questioned whether exchange wagering runs afoul of federal regulations prohibiting bookmaking.

Exchange-wagering platforms allow customers to accept wagers from other customers on sporting events, including horse racing. Because customers can bet on horses to lose, the platforms have raised concerns about race fixing, though Betfair has countered that it voluntarily alerts regulators to suspicious betting patterns.
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