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Thursday, March 29, 2007

Say Thank You to Churchill Downs

- My understanding is that TVG and HRTV will both be televising the entire World Cup program live starting at 9:30 A.M. But if you're in NYC, and you have Time Warner Cable, don't plan on seeing the feature race live at home. Although NYRA's simulcast feed, available on Channel 71, will have the rest of the program live, Churchill Downs, which controls the signal and wagering from Dubai, has prohibited NYRA from showing the race live on that channel; it instead will be shown on tape at some point before or after the second from the Big A. So send a big 'thank you' to Churchill for that bit of fucking pettiness. I suppose they'd prefer that the 12 people who actually get HRTV watch it there. The race will be shown live at the Big A, and you can catch the replay of the World Cup and UAE Derby on ABC starting at 2:30.

- Bloodhorse.com has updated their story on Excelsior, and a spokesperson for the group confirms that Steve Swindal is still on board despite his being kicked out of the Steinbrenner fiefdom (and bedroom):

"Steve Swindal is an integral part of our team. Over the last decade with the New York Yankees, he has gained extensive experience in managing a world-class sports franchise, and will being that experience to bear with the Excelsior team moving forward."

4 Comments:

Anonymous said...

Didn't Churchill suggest that others follow their lead and share signals when they mated with Magna a couple weeks ago?

Superfecta said...

At least it's actually on television, though - and national TV at that. Granted, it's a tape delay and I'll have to lay off the internet, but since Comcast doesn't allow TVG or HRTV, it's better than nothing...

Anonymous said...

I would think the national TV contract prohibits broadcasting elsewhere earlier in the day, so doubt this is CD's fault.

Simulcast at wagering facilities, fine, broadcast over cable, not so.

Alan Mann said...

>>I would think the national TV contract prohibits broadcasting elsewhere earlier in the day, so doubt this is CD's fault.

Simulcast at wagering facilities, fine, broadcast over cable, not so.


Makes sense, but why then is TVG and HRTV permitted to carry it live? And ABC is also carrying the UAE Derby, and there doesn't seem to be any restriction on that race. I suppose it's not the biggest deal, as the race will be shown shortly after its completion, but that's all the more reason to think that CD is being petty here.