R3000 to watch TT

Amazing Jack,

we both wrote independently at virtually the same time,and the gist is the same.

How come these people who run this game just don't see it?

Once again,the lack of common sense prevails.

Jack Dash Wrote:

---

> If you read this thread from it's beginning it is
> sad to see how getting this info is like having
> teeth extracted.
>
> For most people here horse racing is a big part of
> their lives. It's just so tiring to beg these
> dicks who run the show, who are parasites of
> racing, to treat there customers with respect.
> They all have websites, so it's easy to post up
> news regarding things of importance or interest to
> us, the customer.
>
> One way or another, I have paid stakes, trainers,
> jockeys, staff wages, TV crews and equipment and
> on and on, so it's a pity to be taken so for
> granted It also explains why punters have no
> loyalty to the companies who seem to give most of
> their consideration to the other customers, the
> owners.
>
> Thanks to Craig and LG for some info leakage, but
> isn't it a pity your organisations are so
> classless that it falls to you to call and
> scrounge about to get some info for us mushroom
> punters. It does seem you guys must feel sorry
> that everyone is always in the dark otherwise you
> wouldn't try so hard? These companies are a
> disgrace, they lucky they are a monopoly (ok, a
> duopoly (you know what i mean)), they have no idea
> who their customers are, what they want, or how to
> treat them.
>
> PS The people in blue at the Queens Plate who you
> will only see next year...it's not them either.

Same sentiments here.....they have know for sometime and hence the application for broadcast license but they may still be bogged down in the red tape that goes with this territory.....but here we go again guessing and surmising for lack of info.....but it looks like a move in the right direction.....

Look forward to official press release

I think South Africa will have to hold two meetings per day.

Morning guys,Bob what site or bookmakers can I access to watch pre race interviews and summaries.
Victor Chandler keeps freezing ans www.racingassociation is the same

davetheflower Wrote:

---

> Morning guys,Bob what site or bookmakers can I
> access to watch pre race interviews and
> summaries.
> Victor Chandler keeps freezing ans
> www.racingassociation is the same


I use Interbet.

---

Some of the comments in this thread display an almost frightening ignorance of reality. I am going to use Louis Goosen's post ( no disrespect intended to you, Louis ) to respond and speculate on some of the points raised :

> 1)The Rand has weakened and there is a definite swing towards Sports Betting which is hurting Horseracing turnover.

As far fetched as this may sound the rand has weakened before. And also strengthened. In the early 2000's it hit R19 to the pound. It has also traded at close to half that level subsequently. Ask any so-called 'expert' in economics and one of the first things he/she will tell you is : Never try and predict currency movements unless you want to get seriously hurt. You simply live with the consequences but need to ask the question: What happens if the rand strengthens? Does the model change again or do shareholders simply pocket the profits?

The swing to Sports Betting is well documented and GLOBAL. Ask the players and many will cite disenchantment with the racing product (and I'm putting it politely - they will tell you that they think it is s**t ). Local horseracing is a FAILING business. I take no pleasure in telling you this - read the operator's annual reports over the last couple of years and take your heads out from your own backsides.

Many of the reasons are also well documented : The public perceives the sport to be corrupt, very poor PR, poor communication ( this very issue being a case in point ), take-it-or-leave-it attitude, potential conflict due to shareholder/participant interests. Etc.

> 2)So, the moneys paid to the overseas partners who supply the International feed is now down by some 42%.

We know that but it is not necessarily going to be permanent.

> 3)The International partners have been putting pressure for a few years now in terms of the Bookies receiving their product for next to
nothing. Now, with the Rand weakening, they have had enough and PGL had to find a solution.

Truth at last. The corporates WANT MORE MONEY and SUSTAINED PROFITS. So who can they put the squeeze on?

> 4)The truth is that Racing in SA costs some R720M to run annually and in spite of the Bookies having almost the same turnover as the tote, Bookies only contribute R114M of the R720M.

Actually that's incorrect - it probably costs a lot more if you consider that owners have almost NO CHANCE of breaking even on the present stakes model. So there is an additional free 'subsidy' that the operator happily accepts and does not report on other than to make the occasional sympathetic clucking sound.

How on earth does any half intelligent person compare the bookmaker model with the Tote? The tote takes no risk, gouges from 15% upwards out of betting stakes and FEELS ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN in returning you 0% profit on a winning bet! And that's supposed to be attractive to a thinking punter?

Bookmakers do not flourish because of sheer good luck. They offer a product which a large number of people clearly find attractive and generally run more customer friendly businesses. Surely nobody can conceivably believe that bookmaker turnover would magically default to the tote in the absence of the former. I doubt it.

I personally number a mere 1 amongst a portion of the market that does not bet on the tote AT ALL; simply because I 'construct a book' on most races and need to know what my returns will be in advance.

Put bookmakers out of business and I will simply stop punting on horses altogether. Then the operator can kiss goodbye to the 3% I have been paying off winning bets and which has been subsidizing this sorry mess for 40 years. No skin off my nose - I too now prefer sports betting and can manage without the game - a decision which THOUSANDS have already made.

> 5)Overseas partners put their foot down, as they believe that Bookies in SA have had it "for next to nothing" for too long.

What utter spin! At least they used the word 'believe'. Clearly these are not UK partners as their bookmaker model may well be even more bookmaker friendly than ours!

> 6)So, whilst the SA product has to be continued in the current manner, PGL have no control over Overseas feeds and the costs as determined over there.

Has the operator never heard of any of the multitude of financial products which one can employ to stabilize any business trading in foreign exchange priced products or services? That takes care of the currency fluctuations.

With regard to 'control overseas feeds and costs' etc., - whatever happened to 'negotiation'? Clearly the operator is great at bullying SA customers but not so good with international businessmen!

7)In the meantime, PGL has obtained a Broadcasting license and will Broadcast the International feed on their own decoders, which is a lot more expensive for Bookies than at present.

Simple solution - bookmakers stop betting on overseas racing or just do not offer a picture. They bet to percentages and NOT pictures. So the punter can source the picture ( if desired ) at home and call in the bet. What's changed?

8)Contrary to rumours, the new decoder costs about 80 US Dollars.

Another charge. Another decision almost GUARANTEED to chase away more punters than bookmakers! And what happens when they suddenly decide to levy a regular charge? Don't forget - this operator has already reneged on a similar type scheme in the past so who's to say it won't happen again?

9)We will still have Tellytrack at home as per current, but will only see local Racing.

Like much of the rest of the country I am not particularly enamoured ( not to be confused with 'interested' ) with local racing. So - well done. This should help to make a FAILING business fail faster. Imagine if rugby had the same attitude - no more internationals that do not feature the Springboks. And we focus on Vodacom Cup only. Buy another decoder if you want to watch Super 15. Because the rand has weakened and the price went up..........

10)This is very good for local Owners etc, as more time for Interviews and shows such as Winning Ways etc.

This is where crass ignorance REALLY raises its ugly head. Whilst doing the rain dance understand the following - International racing - because there are no stakes to provide and infrastructure is a fraction of the cost of the local product - helps contribute towards propping up the FAILING South African product.

I fail to see how you can possibly regard putting income at risk as being 'very good for local Owners'. If you paid even the slightest attention to the customer base you would see that most people who appreciate the problems facing racing would accept a 'passive' broadcast in the interest of cost containment - ie no interviews, no Winning Ways, no presenters.

> I love it !

You may well have to learn to love an even more contracted sport as this forces more out or they continue leaving because they are disenchanted.

In the meantime - let's ship another couple of dozen 'beautiful people' down to the Met at our expense. People whom we will never see again and who are totally unlikely to ever buy a horse. Now that's the type of sensible marketing I like to see the operator engaged in. Not.

Interbet dave , but you need an account , you can also watch on Betfair but their coverage starts 3 mins before the race

I have a link for TT commentary on the homepage maybe the interviews will be in there

Owning a signal for dedicated decoders cannot be a strategy for Phum/TT to mitigate the open bet. I dont get it. How? First formulate a strategy to increase customer service.

Garrick, the truth is that the bookies are raping the game, in terms of getting almost half of the turnover and yet putting back so little. But, you obviously believe different and have forsaken racing, even though you continue to criticise it and everything thats done.

There is a lot of strategy, logistics and also some technical issues involved here. A comprehensive press release is being prepped. So, Jack, Muhti and fellow happy friends, why dont you look at this issue this way - 1)You read it first on ABC. 2)Even though we jumped the gun, John Stuart still responded and gave us the story for ABC in advance of their press release. So I dont understand your ranting and raving. John could have said, "please wait for the press release" and that would have been reasonable. Yet, when he does cooperate, you are still unhappy.....:S

There is still a lot to be done. A partial or incomplete press release will just create more questions. Here are some examples -
1)Surely some of the bigger, regular tote customers who bet on international will be subsidised in terms of cost of decoder for their private use etc?
2)Surely normal punters will pay no subscription fees?
3)Surely RA will subsidise some decoders?
4)The licence has just been granted. There will be a substantial admin system and trail.
5)How many decoders to order?
6)Restructuring at TT?
I believe that this is all in due process, hence no official release yet. Thanks, though, to John Stuart for responding to ABC.

WHATS THE ODDS THAT MOST OF THE FIRST BATCH OF DECODERS ARE ALREADY TAKEN BY THE BOOKIES ??? Do you think any? some? many? most?

Aren't we ever so lucky..............<

Yes Sir,No Sir,3 bags full Sir.What can I do to please you Sir,my customer.

That is the correct response to US,the customers.

Until that gets sorted,problems will persist.