JJ Flash 2,115 Report post Posted May 18, 2022 New Friday night Harness TV Channel 18 May 2022 , News A channel broadcasting harness racing, and only harness racing, will be launched this Friday. For every Friday night for the next six weeks Trot Night will be broadcast on Sky Channel 83 from 5.30pm to 10.30pm. It's a trial its backers hope will become permanent. This week it will feature the two meetings at Alexandra Park and Addington, with all races broadcast live. "Your Friday nights won't be the same," says Jamie MacKinnon, the Auckland Trotting Club president who's behind the new show, "there'll be no greyhound racing or racing from unknown parts of the world. It will be wall-to-wall harness for five hours." MacKinnon's been working on the concept since 2019. "Ideally we want every Friday night to have a live harness race every 15 minutes just like the thoroughbreds have on a Saturday afternoon." Trot Night will feature co-hosts, Karen Teague and Jason Teaz backed up by reporters Jo Stevens at Alexandra Park and Nigel Armstrong at Addington. The TAB have agreed to allow the show to tap into Craig The Whale’s preview of every race, as well as broadcast each domestic race live (complete with dividends). The show will also be available on Facebook and Youtube. Trackside will broadcast the two meetings as per usual. The new show will be funded by the ATC, HRNZ and sponsors Woodlands Stud and Stonewall Stud. At the end of the six-week trial an in-depth review will be conducted with the clubs involved, HRNZ and the TAB. “If we are successful in attracting and growing the audience expectations are that Trot Night will become a regular Friday night event,” says MacKinnon, "but we realise that six weeks is not long to build an audience." The next 6 weeks looks like this on Sky Channel 83 from 5.30pm - 10.30 pm. May 20 – Alexandra Park and Addington May 27 – Alexandra Park and Addington June 3 – Cambridge June 10 – Alexandra Park June 17 – Addington June 24 – Addington john legend, Iraklis, ivanthegreat and 1 other 2 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelli 426 Report post Posted May 19, 2022 Would love to watch but don't know if we can. We only have the Trackside Sky package and Freeview on the tele and don't really feel like using up my data to watch the full show via my phone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasman man 742 Report post Posted May 19, 2022 2 hours ago, Nelli said: Would love to watch but don't know if we can. We only have the Trackside Sky package and Freeview on the tele and don't really feel like using up my data to watch the full show via my phone The article states it is available on both Facebook and You Tube so should be accessible to most. 6 weeks is quite a short trial , but it starts with a Group 1 night and better fields than recent weeks. Every race will have extra lead in times for people to have a bet. The new channel probably won't be shown in TAB's and Sports Bars and may give folk even less reason to go to the races. But on-course attendances often quite bleak in winter. JJ Flash and john legend 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iraklis 2,203 Report post Posted May 19, 2022 Channel 83 is currently the Face TV channel on Sky, so anyone with Sky should be able to watch it. I hope there'll be more interviews and aftermath wraps of races, I find those interestin and entertainin, a dedicated Harness channel I'm lovin the idea..... Cheers Iraklis Keneperu, JJ Flash, Lee270744 and 1 other 3 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eljay 1,711 Report post Posted May 19, 2022 Are the ATC encouraging patrons NOT to turn up to Alex Park? JJ Flash 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasman man 742 Report post Posted May 19, 2022 48 minutes ago, eljay said: Are the ATC encouraging patrons NOT to turn up to Alex Park? Cheer up eljay......more time and information etc available to encourage more betting ! I heard the cameras will be scanning around the oncourse crowd to see the happy folk enjoying their night out with special focus on your lounge and in particular your table to gain some insightful comments on each horse's chances. So have a shave ,wear your best threads and take your trial notes along and remember to smile ! Lee270744, john legend and JJ Flash 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thejanitor 1,206 Report post Posted May 19, 2022 I don't have Sky so I won't watch it. I shall continue to watch harness racing on the TAB website. I prefer that anyway cos you only have to tune in just as race starts. Miss all the whale garbage!!! JJ Flash, Value Bell, tasman man and 3 others 3 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikenz 1,071 Report post Posted May 19, 2022 Face tv I th 2 hours ago, Thejanitor said: I don't have Sky so I won't watch it. I shall continue to watch harness racing on the TAB website. I prefer that anyway cos you only have to tune in just as race starts. Miss all the whale garbage!!! Face tv is I think a freeview channel but like all channels they are on skys platform Done some research seems it's not freeview as such but free on the sky platform only, I could be wrong though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eljay 1,711 Report post Posted May 19, 2022 13 hours ago, tasman man said: Cheer up eljay......more time and information etc available to encourage more betting ! I heard the cameras will be scanning around the oncourse crowd to see the happy folk enjoying their night out with special focus on your lounge and in particular your table to gain some insightful comments on each horse's chances. So have a shave ,wear your best threads and take your trial notes along and remember to smile ! OK TM. I presume you will be dodging the cameras. No doubt you will in the TAB where they can't find you. Or the Lone Star? tasman man, john legend, JJ Flash and 1 other 1 1 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john legend 735 Report post Posted May 19, 2022 this great news . First real promo to help keep harness racing alive. instead of the wiping of any form of visibility eg. friday flash.gone,newspaper fields and results long gone, radio broadcasts, gone hr weekly, gone...TABs closed or closing. (the accountantseducing costs and ignoring the damage to peoples interest in ownership/sponsorship and of course punting. BIG THANKS TO THOSE INVOLVED Palliser, Thejanitor, Overcheck and 2 others 4 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thejanitor 1,206 Report post Posted May 19, 2022 11 minutes ago, john legend said: this great news . First real promo to help keep harness racing alive. instead of the wiping of any form of visibility eg. friday flash.gone,newspaper fields and results long gone, radio broadcasts, gone hr weekly, gone...TABs closed or closing. (the accountantseducing costs and ignoring the damage to peoples interest in ownership/sponsorship and of course punting. BIG THANKS TO THOSE INVOLVED I won't watch because I can't but it still a great idea. Harness needs to be marketed far better than at present. There are so many good things in the industry, newsworthy and interesting personalities but none are promoted and they should be household names. Just a few I can think off the top of my head: Michael House, clever, innovative and intelligent man, the glamorous Tomlinson sisters, Luk Chin... a legend what a story!! There are many more... lamour, Iraklis and Nelli 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJESTIC 179 Report post Posted May 20, 2022 What a waste of time. Comfortably watched Race 2 from Addington on 62. Turned over half way thru race to 83. Race nowhere to be seen. Hope they get a refund!!!! Ludwig 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwig 150 Report post Posted May 20, 2022 Great concept, but seriously amateur production standards. Embarrassing for the hosts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keneperu 339 Report post Posted May 20, 2022 53 minutes ago, Ludwig said: Great concept, but seriously amateur production standards. Embarrassing for the hosts. Yep they having a few problems but great if they can get it right....and no bloody dogs from out back Australia Overcheck and john legend 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Ghost 36 Report post Posted May 20, 2022 Its called first impressions. Again a bad impression especially with tonight's headlines in Stuff!! JJ Flash 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelli 426 Report post Posted May 20, 2022 Wobbly start but bits ok. Hopefully the team recorded their show and they watch it on an ordinary tv as I think they will see and hear a few easy fixes they can do. The live video resolution was ok on phone but poor for TV, and weather didn't help the audio. Wishing them well for next week. Iraklis and lamour 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john legend 735 Report post Posted May 20, 2022 Lets hope the concept is given a chance to get better . ! Keneperu, Iraklis and lamour 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjw 58 Report post Posted May 20, 2022 The only way anything like this works is if you have more content than time available, two people at a desk filling time isn't enough. The goal of the show should be to provide pre-race interviews, stables, parade ring and aftermath. Not a bad start I guess... lamour and Keneperu 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iraklis 2,203 Report post Posted May 21, 2022 Guys it's their first show, how bout we give em time to find their feet, they've got 6 weeks lets just see how it pans out....watched replay of last nights effort once they get on top of their technical issues reckon they'll come good, those interviews from the stables were magic loved it.... Cheers Iraklis Keneperu, Overcheck, john legend and 2 others 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john legend 735 Report post Posted May 29, 2022 Second night good improvement but still room for lot more. Megan not playing with her hair as much. and races run closer to reality .jasons tips and discussion very good (do we need Whale? ) but lets hope the trial becomes permanent for many reasons... thankyou team. JTeaz and Iraklis 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iraklis 2,203 Report post Posted May 30, 2022 Yeh JJ mate, still early days but lets hope they get to grips with things and the channel becomes permanent, those stories an interviews are magic Cheers Iraklis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJESTIC 179 Report post Posted May 30, 2022 I recognise the male as Jason Teaz but who is the blonde ?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patiti 274 Report post Posted May 30, 2022 Karen Teague Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJESTIC 179 Report post Posted May 30, 2022 What is her harness racing background?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john legend 735 Report post Posted May 30, 2022 sorry Karen Teague/ not Megan and a superfluous comment .lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...