Sky Racing forced to spend up big to lock out Racing.com

Tabcorp, owner of the Sky Racing channel has signed of a five-year media rights agreement with Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA).

The renewed partnership provides Sky Racing, with domestic, digital and international rights for all harness and greyhound racing across Western Australia and thoroughbred racing outside of Perth.

A media report in AFR indicates Tabcorp paid RWWA as much as 26 Million for the broadcast rights. If correct, that figure is a massive increase on the previous deal.

Sky Racing is now being forced to compete for broadcast rights against free-to-air channel Racing.com which currently holds Victorian and Hong Kong broadcasts rights and is keen to expand further.

Negotiations are now underway for broadcast rights in South Australia and New Zealand. 

The new regional WA deal comes after Tabcorp signed a six-year media rights agreement with Perth Racing late last month.

Tabcorp Managing Director and CEO David Attenborough said:

“Sky Racing is thrilled to announce our renewed partnership with Racing and Wagering Western Australia. It comes at a great time after we recently also secured the media rights to Perth Racing. Western Australian racing is a critical component of Sky Racing’s scheduling, with more than 7,500 WA races broadcast each year.”

RWWA CEO Richard Burt said:

“The new agreement will assist to underpin revenues to WA racing through improved media rights and distribution arrangements. These agreements enable WA racing to be broadcast nationally and internationally exposing the states product to new audiences with the anticipation of increased benefits flowing back to WA racing stakeholders.”

Similar to the Perth Racing agreement, the deal with RWWA provides options for streaming of live racing on RWWA digital assets.

Sky Racing broadcasts more than 100,000 races a year on its channels Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing 2 and Sky Thoroughbred Central including every race from every code across Australia.