Tracks reluctant to spend money for HDTV broadcasts

[Alan07]

Only five racetracks – Keeneland, and the four tracks owned by Churchill Downs Inc. – have purchased high-definition television cameras and the equipment necessary to broadcast in the HD format, while only a handful of betting locations have invested in the equipment necessary to view the HD signals. That’s a woeful number when compared with other sports, which have embraced high-definition television to the delight of their fans and customers, despite the higher costs.

Racing, meanwhile, continues to struggle with the expense required to transmit in HD. On Tuesday, Robert Evans, the chief executive officer of Churchill Downs Inc., said that Churchill spent $1.2 million at each of its tracks to upgrade cameras and equipment for high-definition broadcasting, and it currently spends $750,000 a year to enable high-definition transmission of the signals to 42 betting locations. That’s out of 1,600 betting locations worldwide. Evans said that he didn’t know why he was throwing that $750,000 “down a hole,” and Roberts said that he has a meeting with Evans next week in which he expects Churchill to pull the plug on its HD transmissions.

http://drf.com/news/tracks-reluctant...-tv-broadcasts

[Bigsmc]

That sucks.

I thoroughly enjoy the CDI & Keeneland HD broadcasts and was looking forward to more tracks stepping up to the plate in the future.

With this announcement, it is obvious HRTV and TVG will remain in the blurry past. They are literally the only two non-HD channels that I watch.

[randallscott35]

They could raise takeout to pay for it.

Of course he's going to eliminate expenses without an outlook on the long-term future. He only cares about the bottom line...saving his grossly overpaid job.

You could literally take a bum off his park bench, put him in a suit, put a fake degree on his office wall, and he would do a better job than this guy.

[Scav]

I know nothing about the subject so someone that does please enlighten, but since they already bought the cameras, what is the 750k expense he is speaking of, it isn't as simple as turning on a camera, there is an additional expense just to televise?

[Alan07]

Just do what Keeneland does.

[Linny]

Originally Posted by Alan07

Just do what Keeneland does.

Make money from horse sales?

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Linny

Make all their money from horse sales?

FTFY

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Scav

FTFY

Sure, Keeneland makes the bulk of their money on sales but they do fine on the racing product. 34 days a year with gigantic crowds of people will do that for you.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Sure, Keeneland makes the bulk of their money on sales but they do fine on the racing product. 34 days a year with gigantic crowds of people will do that for you.

They might do 'fine' but it is no where near the money they make from the sales.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

Of course he's going to eliminate expenses without an outlook on the long-term future. He only cares about the bottom line...saving his grossly overpaid job.

You could literally take a bum off his park bench, put him in a suit, put a fake degree on his office wall, and he would do a better job than this guy.

This is quite true

Evans not only has been a far worse racing leader than Meeker but he is destructive for the sport. He initially masqueraded as a "horseman" and yet virtually every move he makes pushes the sport further down the totem pole. His speech about less racing the other day on top of this kind of legitimizes the rumors that I have been hearing for quite awhile. That CD will ask to conduct about 30 total days of racing in 2012. 18 in the spring and 12 in the fall is what I have been told. Of course there will be major kickback from the horseman and KHRA but Evans wants to race as little as possible.

Hard to believe that people actually thought that NYRA's management was bad for the game not so long ago.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Scav

They might do 'fine' but it is no where near the money they make from the sales.

I would guess Keeneland does pretty well with their meet. Certainly not as well as the sales but I doubt it loses money.

[Alan07]

I was referring to there signal presentation.

[Alan07]

If Churchill wants to save money, they should consider selling their crappy racing product in Louisiana.

Originally Posted by Alan07

If Churchill wants to save money, they should consider selling their crappy racing product in Louisiana.

Not possible without giving up the slots.


Come on man


Right Key?