Racecourses poised for new era with potentially lucrative media rights deal
Bill Barber on the implications of a major five-year agreement
At midnight on Saturday a switchover takes place at Media City, Salford, marking the beginning of one of the most significant commercial deals in British racing's recent history.
Former fierce commercial rivals SIS and Racecourse Media Group (RMG) have started a five-year agreement for the distribution of pictures and data to betting shops across the UK and Ireland which promises a major boost for racecourse finances and a new era of collaboration between the sport and the betting industry.
However, overshadowing the new deal are concerns that all sides will be hit if betting-shop numbers fall as a result of the government deciding to cut FOBT stakes.
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