Peter Harrop

Of course, any short term savings do not take into account any long term damage in terms of customer base. Just 50% of the country subscribes to Sky. That's got to have a negative impact on exposure and on the attraction of new customers. Getting kids interested in racing has got to be part of the long term plan, and now with racing being more of an exclusive product, as their parents don't have Sky for whatever reason, it's going to be much harder.

Just been thinking. There are 2 glaring examples of what impact taking your sport off free TV can have.
 
Firstly, does anyone remember when Trackside started and there was no TV coverage of South Island racing on a Friday? Do you remember how the South Island clubs used to kick up a stink because they said it wasn't fair that their meetings weren't televised and they couldn't get decent turnover? I remember those meetings that had win pools of $8,000 to $10,000. So even then it was common knowledge that TV coverage increases turnover.
 
Secondly, does anyone remember when Cricket Onedayers were played live on TV1 or TV3. Do you remember going to school and talking about the games with your mates because everyone was watching it? Kids nowadays can't do that because not all kids see the games because of no Sky in their household. Do you remember how many people used to go to onedayers at Eden Park, Lancaster Park ... The Basin Reserve? I remember 30-40,000 at Eden Park quite regularly. Now, did you see how many people were at Eden Park for the West Indies game a couple of weeks back? Cricket has almost fallen off the map in this country as a spectator sport ... and it can be traced back to one event ... when Cricket NZ decided to throw their lot in with Sky Sport and pay TV. I dare say, numbers of people playing the game has dropped off too (pure speculation on my part based on the current ability of our team).

Ok, seeing as how I think I'm a Mr Know-it-all here's my 2 cents worth on this topic.
 
I'm looking at this from a long term and economic point of view. It won't affect me too much apart from the inconvenience when I'm somewhere that doesn't have sky. Those that say things like 'It's only $18.75, pay up and don't be a scrooge' are missing the point. There's a whole economic consideration to do with promotion and betting.
 
1) Punters have x amount of dollars to spend on punting. If they are having to pay out $18.75 per month for trackside, that is $18.75 less of income in which to punt with. So at least part of the extra $18.75 per customer will be lost straight off. And more will be spent in paying Sky for the subs collection and the platform.
2) In the long term, it may be difficult to attract new punters. I know people who have been attracted to punting on the horses through watching it on television. If it's only going to be on sky, and on a lesser watched platform, there's a danger of it becoming an 'out of sight, out of mind' situation. At first, I think, there won't be much difference, because current punters have already tasted the excitement of it. It's the future that is the worry in the face of an ever decreasing customer base through less promotion of the sport.
3) Some current punters will not continue. A lady I know, who doesn't have sky, likes to have a little punt on a saturday afternoon and watch the races. I get the impression that she can either take it or leave it, so it might be a leave, once she has to start paying. On top of that, because she won't have it on on a saturday any more, anyone that visits her will not see the racing as well, and opportunity for them to catch the horse racing bug will be lost.
4) Australia is different (so don't say, well Aussie does it that way, it must be good) because the way I understand it, they have extensive coverage of major meetings on free to air channels. NZ coverage on free to air, outside trackside, is abyssmal. And lets face it, channels here will only give it coverage if it is not too expensive, and it rates.
5) If TV trackside is to not continue free to air, then Radio Trackside needs to smarten its act up a bit. I find it quite difficult when each presenter has a different style and gives you different information. Often interviews go straight up to race start time and the pre race divvies are not read out. This is frustrating, to me at least. Radio trackside could be turned into a totally punting dominated format, perhaps with 2 presenters discussing the form and chances in upcoming races. Use it to drive turnover.
6) I'm worried that NZ Racing is being screwed by Sky with promises of things that are much more beneficial to them than ultimately to racing.
 
This decision worries me. Although, I'm sure that much economic impact and so on has gone into it and by people far more knowledgeable than I. Let's hope it works out for the best long term.

Just been thinking. There are 2 glaring examples of what impact taking your sport off free TV can have.
 
Firstly, does anyone remember when Trackside started and there was no TV coverage of South Island racing on a Friday? Do you remember how the South Island clubs used to kick up a stink because they said it wasn't fair that their meetings weren't televised and they couldn't get decent turnover? I remember those meetings that had win pools of $8,000 to $10,000. So even then it was common knowledge that TV coverage increases turnover.
 
Secondly, does anyone remember when Cricket Onedayers were played live on TV1 or TV3. Do you remember going to school and talking about the games with your mates because everyone was watching it? Kids nowadays can't do that because not all kids see the games because of no Sky in their household. Do you remember how many people used to go to onedayers at Eden Park, Lancaster Park ... The Basin Reserve? I remember 30-40,000 at Eden Park quite regularly. Now, did you see how many people were at Eden Park for the West Indies game a couple of weeks back? Cricket has almost fallen off the map in this country as a spectator sport ... and it can be traced back to one event ... when Cricket NZ decided to throw their lot in with Sky Sport and pay TV. I dare say, numbers of people playing the game has dropped off too (pure speculation on my part based on the current ability of our team).

Just been thinking. There are 2 glaring examples of what impact taking your sport off free TV can have.
 
Firstly, does anyone remember when Trackside started and there was no TV coverage of South Island racing on a Friday? Do you remember how the South Island clubs used to kick up a stink because they said it wasn't fair that their meetings weren't televised and they couldn't get decent turnover? I remember those meetings that had win pools of $8,000 to $10,000. So even then it was common knowledge that TV coverage increases turnover.
 
Secondly, does anyone remember when Cricket Onedayers were played live on TV1 or TV3. Do you remember going to school and talking about the games with your mates because everyone was watching it? Kids nowadays can't do that because not all kids see the games because of no Sky in their household. Do you remember how many people used to go to onedayers at Eden Park, Lancaster Park ... The Basin Reserve? I remember 30-40,000 at Eden Park quite regularly. Now, did you see how many people were at Eden Park for the West Indies game a couple of weeks back? Cricket has almost fallen off the map in this country as a spectator sport ... and it can be traced back to one event ... when Cricket NZ decided to throw their lot in with Sky Sport and pay TV. I dare say, numbers of people playing the game has dropped off too (pure speculation on my part based on the current ability of our team).

Just been thinking. There are 2 glaring examples of what impact taking your sport off free TV can have.
 
Firstly, does anyone remember when Trackside started and there was no TV coverage of South Island racing on a Friday? Do you remember how the South Island clubs used to kick up a stink because they said it wasn't fair that their meetings weren't televised and they couldn't get decent turnover? I remember those meetings that had win pools of $8,000 to $10,000. So even then it was common knowledge that TV coverage increases turnover.
 
Secondly, does anyone remember when Cricket Onedayers were played live on TV1 or TV3. Do you remember going to school and talking about the games with your mates because everyone was watching it? Kids nowadays can't do that because not all kids see the games because of no Sky in their household. Do you remember how many people used to go to onedayers at Eden Park, Lancaster Park ... The Basin Reserve? I remember 30-40,000 at Eden Park quite regularly. Now, did you see how many people were at Eden Park for the West Indies game a couple of weeks back? Cricket has almost fallen off the map in this country as a spectator sport ... and it can be traced back to one event ... when Cricket NZ decided to throw their lot in with Sky Sport and pay TV. I dare say, numbers of people playing the game has dropped off too (pure speculation on my part based on the current ability of our team).

Just been thinking. There are 2 glaring examples of what impact taking your sport off free TV can have.
 
Firstly, does anyone remember when Trackside started and there was no TV coverage of South Island racing on a Friday? Do you remember how the South Island clubs used to kick up a stink because they said it wasn't fair that their meetings weren't televised and they couldn't get decent turnover? I remember those meetings that had win pools of $8,000 to $10,000. So even then it was common knowledge that TV coverage increases turnover.
 
Secondly, does anyone remember when Cricket Onedayers were played live on TV1 or TV3. Do you remember going to school and talking about the games with your mates because everyone was watching it? Kids nowadays can't do that because not all kids see the games because of no Sky in their household. Do you remember how many people used to go to onedayers at Eden Park, Lancaster Park ... The Basin Reserve? I remember 30-40,000 at Eden Park quite regularly. Now, did you see how many people were at Eden Park for the West Indies game a couple of weeks back? Cricket has almost fallen off the map in this country as a spectator sport ... and it can be traced back to one event ... when Cricket NZ decided to throw their lot in with Sky Sport and pay TV. I dare say, numbers of people playing the game has dropped off too (pure speculation on my part based on the current ability of our team).

Ok, seeing as how I think I'm a Mr Know-it-all here's my 2 cents worth on this topic.
 
I'm looking at this from a long term and economic point of view. It won't affect me too much apart from the inconvenience when I'm somewhere that doesn't have sky. Those that say things like 'It's only $18.75, pay up and don't be a scrooge' are missing the point. There's a whole economic consideration to do with promotion and betting.
 
1) Punters have x amount of dollars to spend on punting. If they are having to pay out $18.75 per month for trackside, that is $18.75 less of income in which to punt with. So at least part of the extra $18.75 per customer will be lost straight off. And more will be spent in paying Sky for the subs collection and the platform.
2) In the long term, it may be difficult to attract new punters. I know people who have been attracted to punting on the horses through watching it on television. If it's only going to be on sky, and on a lesser watched platform, there's a danger of it becoming an 'out of sight, out of mind' situation. At first, I think, there won't be much difference, because current punters have already tasted the excitement of it. It's the future that is the worry in the face of an ever decreasing customer base through less promotion of the sport.
3) Some current punters will not continue. A lady I know, who doesn't have sky, likes to have a little punt on a saturday afternoon and watch the races. I get the impression that she can either take it or leave it, so it might be a leave, once she has to start paying. On top of that, because she won't have it on on a saturday any more, anyone that visits her will not see the racing as well, and opportunity for them to catch the horse racing bug will be lost.
4) Australia is different (so don't say, well Aussie does it that way, it must be good) because the way I understand it, they have extensive coverage of major meetings on free to air channels. NZ coverage on free to air, outside trackside, is abyssmal. And lets face it, channels here will only give it coverage if it is not too expensive, and it rates.
5) If TV trackside is to not continue free to air, then Radio Trackside needs to smarten its act up a bit. I find it quite difficult when each presenter has a different style and gives you different information. Often interviews go straight up to race start time and the pre race divvies are not read out. This is frustrating, to me at least. Radio trackside could be turned into a totally punting dominated format, perhaps with 2 presenters discussing the form and chances in upcoming races. Use it to drive turnover.
6) I'm worried that NZ Racing is being screwed by Sky with promises of things that are much more beneficial to them than ultimately to racing.
 
This decision worries me. Although, I'm sure that much economic impact and so on has gone into it and by people far more knowledgeable than I. Let's hope it works out for the best long term.

Ok, seeing as how I think I'm a Mr Know-it-all here's my 2 cents worth on this topic.
 
I'm looking at this from a long term and economic point of view. It won't affect me too much apart from the inconvenience when I'm somewhere that doesn't have sky. Those that say things like 'It's only $18.75, pay up and don't be a scrooge' are missing the point. There's a whole economic consideration to do with promotion and betting.
 
1) Punters have x amount of dollars to spend on punting. If they are having to pay out $18.75 per month for trackside, that is $18.75 less of income in which to punt with. So at least part of the extra $18.75 per customer will be lost straight off. And more will be spent in paying Sky for the subs collection and the platform.
2) In the long term, it may be difficult to attract new punters. I know people who have been attracted to punting on the horses through watching it on television. If it's only going to be on sky, and on a lesser watched platform, there's a danger of it becoming an 'out of sight, out of mind' situation. At first, I think, there won't be much difference, because current punters have already tasted the excitement of it. It's the future that is the worry in the face of an ever decreasing customer base through less promotion of the sport.
3) Some current punters will not continue. A lady I know, who doesn't have sky, likes to have a little punt on a saturday afternoon and watch the races. I get the impression that she can either take it or leave it, so it might be a leave, once she has to start paying. On top of that, because she won't have it on on a saturday any more, anyone that visits her will not see the racing as well, and opportunity for them to catch the horse racing bug will be lost.
4) Australia is different (so don't say, well Aussie does it that way, it must be good) because the way I understand it, they have extensive coverage of major meetings on free to air channels. NZ coverage on free to air, outside trackside, is abyssmal. And lets face it, channels here will only give it coverage if it is not too expensive, and it rates.
5) If TV trackside is to not continue free to air, then Radio Trackside needs to smarten its act up a bit. I find it quite difficult when each presenter has a different style and gives you different information. Often interviews go straight up to race start time and the pre race divvies are not read out. This is frustrating, to me at least. Radio trackside could be turned into a totally punting dominated format, perhaps with 2 presenters discussing the form and chances in upcoming races. Use it to drive turnover.
6) I'm worried that NZ Racing is being screwed by Sky with promises of things that are much more beneficial to them than ultimately to racing.
 
This decision worries me. Although, I'm sure that much economic impact and so on has gone into it and by people far more knowledgeable than I. Let's hope it works out for the best long term.

Ok, seeing as how I think I'm a Mr Know-it-all here's my 2 cents worth on this topic.
 
I'm looking at this from a long term and economic point of view. It won't affect me too much apart from the inconvenience when I'm somewhere that doesn't have sky. Those that say things like 'It's only $18.75, pay up and don't be a scrooge' are missing the point. There's a whole economic consideration to do with promotion and betting.
 
1) Punters have x amount of dollars to spend on punting. If they are having to pay out $18.75 per month for trackside, that is $18.75 less of income in which to punt with. So at least part of the extra $18.75 per customer will be lost straight off. And more will be spent in paying Sky for the subs collection and the platform.
2) In the long term, it may be difficult to attract new punters. I know people who have been attracted to punting on the horses through watching it on television. If it's only going to be on sky, and on a lesser watched platform, there's a danger of it becoming an 'out of sight, out of mind' situation. At first, I think, there won't be much difference, because current punters have already tasted the excitement of it. It's the future that is the worry in the face of an ever decreasing customer base through less promotion of the sport.
3) Some current punters will not continue. A lady I know, who doesn't have sky, likes to have a little punt on a saturday afternoon and watch the races. I get the impression that she can either take it or leave it, so it might be a leave, once she has to start paying. On top of that, because she won't have it on on a saturday any more, anyone that visits her will not see the racing as well, and opportunity for them to catch the horse racing bug will be lost.
4) Australia is different (so don't say, well Aussie does it that way, it must be good) because the way I understand it, they have extensive coverage of major meetings on free to air channels. NZ coverage on free to air, outside trackside, is abyssmal. And lets face it, channels here will only give it coverage if it is not too expensive, and it rates.
5) If TV trackside is to not continue free to air, then Radio Trackside needs to smarten its act up a bit. I find it quite difficult when each presenter has a different style and gives you different information. Often interviews go straight up to race start time and the pre race divvies are not read out. This is frustrating, to me at least. Radio trackside could be turned into a totally punting dominated format, perhaps with 2 presenters discussing the form and chances in upcoming races. Use it to drive turnover.
6) I'm worried that NZ Racing is being screwed by Sky with promises of things that are much more beneficial to them than ultimately to racing.
 
This decision worries me. Although, I'm sure that much economic impact and so on has gone into it and by people far more knowledgeable than I. Let's hope it works out for the best long term.

I've had a couple of sleeps since I created this thread. Sometimes in life you say things that you regret, and this has been one of those occasions. A little bit harsh, I was, with some of the things I said and some of them were no fault of the Waikato Racing Club. They should be congratulated for attracting such a large crowd.

I've had a couple of sleeps since I created this thread. Sometimes in life you say things that you regret, and this has been one of those occasions. A little bit harsh, I was, with some of the things I said and some of them were no fault of the Waikato Racing Club. They should be congratulated for attracting such a large crowd.

Fair point Aaron. I didn't go to the office.
 
I do attend just about every Te Rapa meeting, and quite a few in the surrounds as well, and I do usually thoroughly enjoy it, but not quite as much lately. And I guess it's a balancing act between trying to please the punters and those going for a social occasion, on big days like this. Do you not agree that placing a couple of tents, that catered for perhaps 20 people, in front of the divvy board so that it was almost totally obscured, was a bit silly? I think it's a point well worth bringing up. Otherwise it might happen again next year.
So ... either I am not quite enjoying attending the races as much now as I used to because somethings gone awry with the presentation, or I am becoming more and more grumpy and harder to please as I get older. It's touch and go as to which one of those two is the most accurate.

Firstly, let me congratulate the Waikato Racing Club for moving the tents, which in previous years had been placed in front of the main grandstand, obstructing the view of the racing. That was good. What wasn't so good though was where they moved them to, which was right in front of the divvie board. I wonder who thought that up? So that was the first thing. I could watch the racing, but I couldn't really punt. Because when I punt, I like to know what the horse I bet on is paying beforehand.
 
Other things that sent me on my way were :
1) I had a bet on Race 3 Invercargill. So I went inside to watch it at said start time, only to be confronted by a TV screen playing a still of a nice piece of the green Te Rapa turf. Rush to the car to hear the race on the radio but it was too late.
2) Most of the TV screens I came across appeared to be either on mute, or were so quiet you couldn't hear them above the crowd chatter.
3) When sitting outside, I couldn't hear the commentary of the races over the loud speakers above the crowd noise. Plus I forgot my binoculars (my fault) meaning I had no idea what was going on. Couldn't hear the commentary ... couldn't see the horses ...
4) The giant screens were too far away (a pair of binoculars would have been handy I guess), and races from other venues weren't played.
5) I didn't want to risk not being able to watch the Pick 6, because either the races weren't played, or you couldn't hear them.
6) The phone lines were often overloaded (not WRC's fault of course).
7) You used to be able to read divvies, which someone with a stapler used to post up on boards throughout the course. This wasn't happening (at least at the southern end of the grandstand.)
8) There also used to be someone walking around with remote controls, checking the sound levels of the TVs etc etc, making sure everything was going well for the punters. Not Happening!!
 
In the end, it was more satisfying and easier to have a few bets from my lounge. A bit of a negative post, I know, but perhaps if someone from WRC reads this, they might solve these issues in future.
 

Firstly, let me congratulate the Waikato Racing Club for moving the tents, which in previous years had been placed in front of the main grandstand, obstructing the view of the racing. That was good. What wasn't so good though was where they moved them to, which was right in front of the divvie board. I wonder who thought that up? So that was the first thing. I could watch the racing, but I couldn't really punt. Because when I punt, I like to know what the horse I bet on is paying beforehand.
 
Other things that sent me on my way were :
1) I had a bet on Race 3 Invercargill. So I went inside to watch it at said start time, only to be confronted by a TV screen playing a still of a nice piece of the green Te Rapa turf. Rush to the car to hear the race on the radio but it was too late.
2) Most of the TV screens I came across appeared to be either on mute, or were so quiet you couldn't hear them above the crowd chatter.
3) When sitting outside, I couldn't hear the commentary of the races over the loud speakers above the crowd noise. Plus I forgot my binoculars (my fault) meaning I had no idea what was going on. Couldn't hear the commentary ... couldn't see the horses ...
4) The giant screens were too far away (a pair of binoculars would have been handy I guess), and races from other venues weren't played.
5) I didn't want to risk not being able to watch the Pick 6, because either the races weren't played, or you couldn't hear them.
6) The phone lines were often overloaded (not WRC's fault of course).
7) You used to be able to read divvies, which someone with a stapler used to post up on boards throughout the course. This wasn't happening (at least at the southern end of the grandstand.)
8) There also used to be someone walking around with remote controls, checking the sound levels of the TVs etc etc, making sure everything was going well for the punters. Not Happening!!
 
In the end, it was more satisfying and easier to have a few bets from my lounge. A bit of a negative post, I know, but perhaps if someone from WRC reads this, they might solve these issues in future.
 

Firstly, let me congratulate the Waikato Racing Club for moving the tents, which in previous years had been placed in front of the main grandstand, obstructing the view of the racing. That was good. What wasn't so good though was where they moved them to, which was right in front of the divvie board. I wonder who thought that up? So that was the first thing. I could watch the racing, but I couldn't really punt. Because when I punt, I like to know what the horse I bet on is paying beforehand.
 
Other things that sent me on my way were :
1) I had a bet on Race 3 Invercargill. So I went inside to watch it at said start time, only to be confronted by a TV screen playing a still of a nice piece of the green Te Rapa turf. Rush to the car to hear the race on the radio but it was too late.
2) Most of the TV screens I came across appeared to be either on mute, or were so quiet you couldn't hear them above the crowd chatter.
3) When sitting outside, I couldn't hear the commentary of the races over the loud speakers above the crowd noise. Plus I forgot my binoculars (my fault) meaning I had no idea what was going on. Couldn't hear the commentary ... couldn't see the horses ...
4) The giant screens were too far away (a pair of binoculars would have been handy I guess), and races from other venues weren't played.
5) I didn't want to risk not being able to watch the Pick 6, because either the races weren't played, or you couldn't hear them.
6) The phone lines were often overloaded (not WRC's fault of course).
7) You used to be able to read divvies, which someone with a stapler used to post up on boards throughout the course. This wasn't happening (at least at the southern end of the grandstand.)
8) There also used to be someone walking around with remote controls, checking the sound levels of the TVs etc etc, making sure everything was going well for the punters. Not Happening!!
 
In the end, it was more satisfying and easier to have a few bets from my lounge. A bit of a negative post, I know, but perhaps if someone from WRC reads this, they might solve these issues in future.