Tellytrack will revert to its previous ‘race every ten minutes’ format on DSTV’s Channel 239, with local racing sharing the coverage with racing from overseas, once agreement has been reached with the off-course bookmakers, reports Michael Clower on the Gold Circle website.
However plans are afoot to have a separate subscription channel devoted to South African racing. The present format, which concentrates on local racing, was introduced as a temporary measure but has proved popular with racegoers, owners and racing professionals.
John Stuart, plans to get things back to normal
John Stuart, Phumelela’s director of international marketing, said yesterday: “The majority of viewers prefer Tellytrack as it was but we aim to have a channel for South African racing for the so-called purists and this will be viewed with a different decoder. There are issues about broadcast licences etc but we think we can do it.”
Seemingly some progress has been made in getting the bookmakers to agree to new payment terms although Stuart stressed he could make no comment on this as it is sub judice. Judgement is still awaited on the court case brought by the bookmakers against Tellytrack even though the actual case ended nearly two months ago.
Stuart did say, however, that income from turnover has been affected by the dispute and the consequent change in channel 239 content.
He said: “People who used to bet on UK racing when they got home from work have not had that facility under the new arrangement.”
The Racing Association removed live South African racing from its website as it feared coverage was being pirated by certain bookmakers. However it intends to restore the service once the bookmakers and Tellytrack reach agreement.
