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Final legal attempt to de-rail Turf TV fails in the Supreme Court

Betting Shop Pictures provider “delighted” to be able to get on with its business at last.

The Supreme Court has confirmed once and for all that Turf TV – the Licensed Betting Shops television picture provider which launched in April 2008 – was set up entirely legally, bringing to an end nearly two years of legal action.

Responding to an application by the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Services (BAGS), Ladbrokes and William Hill to appeal further a Court of Appeal judgement made in favour of Turf TV on July 28, Supreme Court judges Lord Collins, Lord Kerr and Lord Clarke refused permission to continue the case any further.

The Court judgement declared the decision had been made because: “the application does not raise an arguable point of law…(and) bearing in mind that the case has already been the subject of judicial decision and reviewed on appeal and because, in relation to the point of European Community law raised in the application of Community law is so obvious as to leave no scope for reasonable doubt.”

Commenting on the decision, Turf TV chairman Alan Morcombe said: “We are delighted: this is final vindication, if any were needed, of everything that we did in setting up Turf TV. It’s sad that it’s taken two years, and so many millions of pounds for all parties, dealing with these endless court cases. If we had had our way, none of that time and money would have been wasted. But we were always 100% confident that we had done everything by the book, so had to do everything in our powers to ensure victory.

“Now, at last, we can all put this behind us and concentrate on our business, which is all about providing a great service and working with the betting shop industry to maximise value for LBOs and their customers alike.”

ENDS