Freeview Gone

[Hacko 123]

So for $18.70 per month I get two racing chanels plus the Freeview channels. They can go and get stuffed.

I'll listen to the radio or watch the occasional race on the computer. My betting will be way down.

I enjoy spending a saturday afternoon watching the races but won't bother once this comes in.

Call me a tight ar.e if you wish but I won't be paying to watch racing on TV.

Good bye racing in NZ.

[crustyngrizzly 1,702]

Totally agree Hacko.

Racing is about to be corporatised.

[GONSTA 1,148]

You can watch TAB live on your mobile device, as long as you have TAB account.

Have you tried it? It's hardly compatible for IPhones... I can't get it to play 3 seconds without buffering or trying to load, impossible to watch a race properly anyway.

[Guest 2Admin2]

So they lost 100,000 customers...and yet their turnover is increasing...mmmmm , sounds good business to me. Who cares what people are betting on, they just want turnover. Fair enough.

Are you on the same drugs as fasthorse? The thoroughbred racing turnover is declining.

[chelseacol 2,488]

So for $18.70 per month I get two racing chanels plus the Freeview channels. They can go and get stuffed.

I'll listen to the radio or watch the occasional race on the computer. My betting will be way down.

I enjoy spending a saturday afternoon watching the races but won't bother once this comes in.

Call me a tight ar.e if you wish but I won't be paying to watch racing on TV.

Good bye racing in NZ.

 

Well if you took up the TAB offer now it is closer to $9 per month for the first 2 years......

 

I'm interested in how often you bet on races at the moment (I'm also interested in how much you bet to be honest but I appreciate you might not like that question !)

 

Where I'm coming from is that $18 a month for something I really enjoyed etc would be ok for me. If I used it just for 4 saturdays a month that would be $4 something a day - just cut out one beer or coffee for that day and I'm ahead. Not taking the mickey - genuinely interested, as the pushback from this type of decision is what we are all trying to understand. Here we have a real example.

 

I will also repeat I personally don't like the decision by TAB etc to cut out freeview

[Hacko 123]

I bet most days, mainly on gallops but occasionally on harness, greyhounds and sports. I could spend anything from $50 to $200 per week.

I may look at joining Sky but not so sure. I have got rid of Sky about 15 years ago when I got a mortgage, something had to go. I know it's cheap enough but I have learned to live without Sky TV.

[Peter Harrop 226]

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.

[onasa23 0]

hot off the press casion's are going to start charging a entrance fee to get into casino. logic being that the entrance fee will offset the lost revenue from people who don't want to have to pay to lose there money

[Guest 2Admin2]

Mmmm the NZRB are really bright they now want to charge you to view an over priced product before you purchase it.

[jack 431]

Does anyone know what our Racing Minister`s view on this subject ..... Or has he and his party been brought out by Co operate lobbyist . If NZ Racing want to promote racing to the new clientele , this is not how you entice them ..... Bring on the Melbourne Cup , Stats will be interesting to read!!

 

 

My 5 cents.

[von Smallhaussen 3,226]

Well if you took up the TAB offer now it is closer to $9 per month for the first 2 years......

 

I'm interested in how often you bet on races at the moment (I'm also interested in how much you bet to be honest but I appreciate you might not like that question !)

 

Where I'm coming from is that $18 a month for something I really enjoyed etc would be ok for me. If I used it just for 4 saturdays a month that would be $4 something a day - just cut out one beer or coffee for that day and I'm ahead. Not taking the mickey - genuinely interested, as the pushback from this type of decision is what we are all trying to understand. Here we have a real example.

 

I will also repeat I personally don't like the decision by TAB etc to cut out freeview

Col - I agree with your thoughts BUT I cannot understand how the TAB can launch a new product like triple trio and expect new people to invest on this yet they cannot see the live results free of charge.

[Insider 3,985]

Hacko, you had better say good bye racing in Australia too. I bet that hurts!

 

Those of you who could get "line of sight" when the signal was UHF, don't know how lucky you were.

 

For years I couldn't see Trackside at all other than going down to the local Pub or TAB.

 

Then when digital TV came in I was able to get it through SKY, but of course I have always had to pay.

 

As I say, you don't know how lucky you are or should I say, how luck you have been.

 

If a person can't afford $18/19 a month for the service one sure as hell can't afford to bet either.

 

My prediction is that all those on here protesting that they are out of racing wont amount to more than 5% who actually do get out. I say that because if you have the time and inclination to participate in Race Café you are as sure as hell are committed to Racing and wont just walk away.

 

Do come back on in 6 months time and tell me that I am wrong!

 

P.S. Sherriff, I tried to include Hacko's quote but it didn't work. Have you got an update on the problem for me and the others? 

[Mrs.Ed 54]

So as Australia, with Horse Racing and Wagering ALREADY a big part of it's culture moves to have Racing available Free To Air;  NZ with it's dying generation of Punters/Racing Enthusiasts and a new generation who's culture doesn't embrace it, moves to limit Racing & Wagering's exposure by going PAY TV. *bravo folks* NOT

 

Sydney Morning Herald 06 Oct 2013:

 

Racing Television channel TVN plans to move from Foxtel to the free-to-air digital spectrum to take the sport to the biggest possible audience.

 

*  TVN to take a place on free-to-air as part of the roll out with the new digital spectrum in 2015.

*  Could reap big returns for the industry in terms of exposure

*  Grow the product by featuring Victoria and NSW Racing to the biggest audience, which will help develop wagering and returns to the industry

 

Full article:  smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/racing-channel-to-swap-pay-tv-for-mainstream-20131006-2v1z2.html

[Guest 2Admin2]

So as Australia, with Horse Racing and Wagering ALREADY a big part of it's culture moves to have Racing available Free To Air; NZ with it's dying generation of Punters/Racing Enthusiasts and a new generation who's culture doesn't embrace it, moves to limit Racing & Wagering's exposure by going PAY TV. *bravo folks* NOT

Sydney Morning Herald 06 Oct 2013:

Racing Television channel TVN plans to move from Foxtel to the free-to-air digital spectrum to take the sport to the biggest possible audience.

* TVN to take a place on free-to-air as part of the roll out with the new digital spectrum in 2015.

* Could reap big returns for the industry in terms of exposure

* Grow the product by featuring Victoria and NSW Racing to the biggest audience, which will help develop wagering and returns to the industry

Full article: smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/racing-channel-to-swap-pay-tv-for-mainstream-20131006-2v1z2.html

Nice one mrs Ed!

[Turny 1,224]

Pretty much sums up our brains trust Mrs Ed

Super

[porky 900]

Well as long as the computer option is still available I,m up to speed with that...(don,t think I,ll bother with Sky deal)

 

But yeah, people visiting or socialising with others without sky, will not be subjected / promoted racing...as before. (Saturday arvo)

 

Just for a laugh I thought I,d phone an old punting mate to get his comment for you...

 

He said Sky can go and get f*****,... That,ll have alot of people jumping up and down. 

[fasthorse 57]

Could there be a trade off here .

We support Sky tv in NZ and in return  we get better Sky coverage for NZ racing in Australia ??.

 

 

[GGlover 7]

Up yours TAB, I don't know why you have to assume that everyone that watches Trackside can afford to have Sky tv installed!!  I enjoy watching horse racing and was pleased to see when I went digital that I was able to watch it.  This is a CRAP DECISION that you have made, arseholes!!!!!!!

[IWMC 69]

Will we see what it really saves?  Probably only a couple of Exec salaries and travel expense accounts.

 

Oh well no more Grandchildren sitting with Granddad watching the racing while reading the form to him.  Another lost generation.

 

Actually there is an election vote winner for Winston - anyone with a Gold Card can still get Free to View Trackside.

 

In any case how much are they really saving?  The broadcast/transmission costs are not significant so they must be expecting to gain revenue to offset their increased production costs which are inferred from their "magazine style" programming.

An extremely good point re Goldcard for free to view trackside.This suggestion is worth more than a cursory glance

by the thinkers at TAB Head office. it is a perfect vehicle to introduce it against.

[Aaron Bidlake 760]

I suppose i can find one positive in this, i wont have to go and buy the freeview and TV i was going to get for my stables where i hang out during the day every day. It does of course mean i won't be betting at that time, and any other time when i go to places without sky as i do like to watch what i have backed.

[Portfolio 728]

How many remember it was only a few years ago we paid about $100 for a TV license? For what, about 3 TV stations?

Seems a bargain to me.

[Peter Harrop 226]

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).

[Peter Harrop 226]

How many remember it was only a few years ago we paid about $100 for a TV license? For what, about 3 TV stations?

Seems a bargain to me.

 

It's a bargain to me too. I'm happy to pay the money. But that doesn't mean it's a bargain for those with less of an interest in the sport. Or for perhaps a kid that might have got involved in the sport because he saw it on TV but may now be lost because his/her parents don't have Sky.

[barryb 2,064]

It's a bargain to me too. I'm happy to pay the money. But that doesn't mean it's a bargain for those with less of an interest in the sport. Or for perhaps a kid that might have got involved in the sport because he saw it on TV but may now be lost because his/her parents don't have Sky.

 

Peter the reality is if they don't have sky, because they cant afford it then they bloody well shouldn't be betting anyway, but I can almost guarantee with certainty they are losing over $100 a week on pokies.

Its a great decision by the TAB, if we finally get some decent coverage in HD then its all positive.

We have been pandering to Grandma and the others who are $20 a week punters for far too long and the result is we are in a shit load of a mess, change is positive, get with it.

Now I am not blaming Grandma for the mess, its because we haven't focused enough on the people who will carry racing into the future enough and this move communicates they understand.

[talk 308]

Peter, you are 100% accurate with your analogy between NZ Cricket and Racing. Cricket would likely be up the proverbial now if it were not for the financial benefits that accrue to them due to NZ being one of only eight test playing countries. Racing does not have this fortunate circumstance. I fear short term expediency will be to the detriment of long term benefit (when current administrators are long gone).

In saying this we have been very fortunate to have the free to air coverage that we have had.