Queensland greyhound racing commits to Sky Racing for next decade
Racing Queensland has today announced that it has hitched its wagon to Sky for the next 10 years, which means Sky Racing and its digital platforms will be the exclusive vision rights holders for Queensland greyhound racing. The financial details around the decade long agreement were not revealed.
Racing Queensland's CEO Brendan Parnell is a former Sky Racing employee, having held senior roles at Tabcorp and Sky Channel.
Sky, which is owned and operated by Tabcorp, have received the exclusive rights to broadcast Queensland metropolitan and country racing across hotels, clubs, TAB agencies, paid streaming channels and digital platforms such as Sky Racing Active – Sky's digital live and on-demand racing content platform. Live Queensland racing and replays will also continue to be shown via TAB's digital channels.
According to Tabcorp, Sky has seen significant digital growth and innovation over the past 12 months with more than 115,000 TAB customer downloads of the Sky Racing Active app since its launch last August and a 50 per cent increase in accessing Sky Racing in the TAB app. Sky Racing 2 has recently moved Foxtel's free base tier from 1st August 2020, although is still not available on the Sky Racing Active app.
Tabcorp's Managing Director of Wagering and Media, Adam Rytenskild, said: “This agreement extends a decades-long relationship that we have with racing in Queensland.
“Sky broadcasts 12,000 Queensland thoroughbred, greyhound and harness races each year – taking Queensland racing into TAB venues, punter apps, homes and international audiences across up to 65 countries. “We look forward to Sky's extensive network continuing to champion Queensland racing action and its stories.”
Racing Queensland Chairman Steve Wilson AM said today's announcement was a positive step for the industry and its clubs.
“The Queensland racing industry has laid the foundations for a prosperous future by signing a new long-term agreement with Sky Racing,” Mr Wilson said.
“There were a number of outcomes we were determined to achieve – most notably increased distribution, showcasing and revenue – and that's exactly what we've been able to secure for our clubs.”
The new media arrangement is on the back of Queensland TAB account customers now having access to new products, live US sport and exclusive promotions as TAB merge the Tatts customers in to the Victorian and NSW TAB apps and digital software, to give all customers a common platform.
recent innovation that gives punters betting in agencies, pub and club TABs and racecourses exclusive offers and
promotions.
“This is the start of a new era for TAB in Queensland and will be great for TAB customers, as well as our racing and venue partners,” Mr Rytenskild said.