So what does this mean to PGE and South African racing?

This was published in 2 articles in Saturdays RacingPost(uk racing paper) and is quite big news because of the tie up betweeen the two racing channels.

Couldn`t find the articles online anywhere but im sure they will appear over the next few days so ive just posted the bits that i think are relevent..

So will PGE have to now negiotiate a new deal to show UK racing and vice Versa concerning the rights to South African Racing?


and if so who is going to get the better deal,the UK or PGE and South African racing? !!!




RUK and ATR team up to sell racing to foreign Markets...


Selling racing abroad in the UK is mostly carried out by ATR and Phumelela Gold(PGE) RUK`S South African based partner.

PGE`S five year contract with RUK runs out on the 28TH of February and the new company will start trading the next day.

The Racingpost claim that the new join up between RUK and ATR is not a merger and they will be competing on the domestic scene.

RUK cheif Richard Fitzgerald said: " The joint venture is not a merger.It has nothing to do with what happens here,either for RUK or Turftv

ATR boss Mathew IMI says " This is definately not the first step in an agreed merger strategy.There is a line in the sand between domestic and international markets"

after a bit BLAH BLAH the article states..


The biggest loser in the formation of the joint venture is Phumelela Gold Enterprises,the South African broadcaster and Racetrack and Betting operator,which was one of the original stakeholders in RUK and has been it`s international partner for the last five years.

PGE,which is based in Johannesburg,owns the domestic and international rights to South African horseracing.
It also acquired RUK`s world-wide betting-related broadcast rights,and has operated a daily racing-betting package on south African based Tv channel Racing International.

Bets are co-mingled through Phumelela`s Amtote betting system into eithr UK or South African tote pools.However,PGE`S contract with RUK has a five year break point on February 28,and and this has been exercised,leaving PGE to remain as one of the bigger customers of the new company.
Fitzgerald said " i would like to put on record our appreciation to PGE for the work they have done for our racecources in this area in devoloping the marketplace,and as one of our klargest international customers for British Racing!!
.............

Bob well done BIG NEWS, watch this space.........

2 scabby meetings on in the uk today and i still couldn`t tempt anybody to have a Bet in SA racing..

So who do you reckons got the bigger bargaining power?

NOTICE TO PGE’S CUSTOMERS

Dear Customer

I hereby wish to inform you that, with effect from 1st March 2010, PGE will no longer have the International distribution rights to the Racing UK product.

Racing UK and Attheraces have agreed to pool their respective international rights and to create a new, unified broadcast service aimed at retail based wagering operators around the world. Their offering will be a UK and Irish racing product only and will be sold by a Joint venture representing the two rights holders.

We appreciate that this is short notice and apologise for any inconvenience caused. We will be contacting you early next week to discuss the implications of this change and what we can do to assist you during this transitional phase.

We are planning to put together a revised Racing International package and would also appreciate having the opportunity of discussing this with you.

We will continue with our International commingling efforts and offer the Isle of Man hub as a betting path of choice. This offers full commingling on a wide range of bets, fractional betting and multi-currency betting. Should you require these services please advise us and we will be happy to oblige.

Although the ending of the PGE/RUK partnership signals the end of an era it also heralds the dawn of a new era, one in which we hope to continue to work with you in providing solutions for your particular needs.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your most loyal and valued support in the past and look forward to a new, rewarding and long relationship with you in the future.

So just when PGE thought it was becoming the top dog it has got screwed again.

The above notice is clearly aimed at international clients who PGE are keen to appease as they are desperately seeking their business.It is amazing how they don't seem capable of conducting themselves in the same manner when dealing with the local clientele who have been punting with them for decades.The double standards that persist are simply astounding,and it's time PGE woke up to the fact the local is lekker above all else,and then only should they worry about international clients.In know that that is where they perceive their growth will come from in the foreseeable future and they are correct,but it really is time to start looking after the customer base that is already established.What is also amazing is the fact that PGE did not even see this coming."We appreciate that this is short notice and apologise for any inconvenience caused" is clearly indicative of the fact that they did in fact not even have the slightest clue.

PGE IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU START TREATING YOUR LOCAL CLIENTS WITH THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE,or else you may just wake up one morning to find that they would have deserted you,and I can guarentee that you wouldn't have even seen it coming.

JAP,does the rites to show UK and vice versa SA racing run out with the deal?

and how much are the UK firms going to pay for SA racing as ive said many times the firm i work for struggle to take bets on SA racing..

I don't have the slightest clue Hibs.

It just fascinates me that this company which considers itself so progressive is perceived so differently by it's customers.It has a know-it-all approach to so many things,and there are so many instances which clearly indicate to me that there are massive management problems.The inability of a company to listen to what it's customers wants have seen the downfall of of many giants over the years,and the dictatorial approach and attitude of PGE is going to lead to their customers ultimately deserting them,but that's just my opinion of course.

Hibs & jap:

what about 3 minute showers?

Throw in the used condoms!

This is probably good news for SA racing.