Press Releases

Turf TV wins High Court case against major bookmakers

Turf TV, the Licensed Betting Office (LBO) television pictures supplier, has won the case brought against it by William Hill, Ladbrokes, BetFred and the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS), it was announced this morning.

Handing down his judgement in the High Court, following a hearing lasting eight weeks, Mr Justice Morgan said that in setting up Turf TV, its Joint Venture shareholders – Alphameric PLC and 31 UK racecourses – had not contravened competition law in any way.

Referring to the taking up of exclusive rights to 31 racecourses by Turf TV, the judge concluded: “It was commercially necessary to enter that market as a successful competitor to take exclusive rights to as many (race)courses as were available.”

The judgement allows Turf TV to continue to run and develop its business entirely as it has been doing.

Meanwhile, the judge asked for more time to decide on a counter-claim made by Turf TV against William Hill, Ladbrokes and BAGS, alleging that they colluded to prevent Turf TV’s entrance into the marketplace. He expects to hand down judgement on that matter in late September.

Commenting on the judgement, Alan Morcombe, executive chairman of Turf TV, said:

“We are delighted with this outcome, which is a vindication of both the setting-up and operation of Turf TV.”

“This is a judgement that allows Turf TV to continue in business and a judgement that maintains healthy competition in the supply of picture and data services to bookmakers. We took excellent legal advice throughout the setting-up of Turf TV, and have always been totally confident in our legal position.

“We also remain confident of our position concerning the counter-claim against the major bookmakers for collusive behaviour. We look forward to Mr Justice Morgan’s conclusions on that part of the case, which will be delivered in a few weeks time.

“As for what happens next, our business will continue to trade and operate as it currently does, and will be allowed to develop and improve, as we had always planned. That is all we ever wanted when we started Turf TV.

“This case was brought by BAGS, William Hill and Ladbrokes at a critical time in Turf TV’s history, and was specifically intended to exclude us from this market and maintain the old monopoly. Now that that attempt has failed, we hope that both Turf TV and those bookmakers involved will get on with developing closer and better relations, which we believe will lead to a more profitable future for both sides.

“Our clear intention is to draw a line in the sand at this point and commit to working with all our bookmaker clients going forward to help them all develop and progress their businesses.”

Charles Barnett, chief executive of Ascot, a racecourse shareholder in Turf TV, added: “This is tremendous, and welcome, news, allowing as it does for Turf TV’s business to continue to thrive in the open market. Today’s decision vindicates the view of us, and other racecourses: that a new way of realising the value of our picture rights into betting shops was a perfectly fair one.
Now, we can all look forward to developing the kind of relationships with the bookmakers that we have always wanted, to the benefit of both our industries.”

ENDS

Notes for editors:

1/ Turf TV is a service owned by Amalgamated Racing, a Joint Venture between Alphameric PLC and 31 UK racecourses. It was first launched in April 2007, and its full service started on January 1 2008.

2/ Turf TV broadcasts exclusive coverage to Licensed Betting Offices from its 31 shareholder racecourses, which include Cheltenham, Ascot, Newmarket, Aintree, Epsom, Newbury, York, Goodwood and Chester.

3/ Turf TV’s service also includes a range of other televised betting products, including exclusive coverage of South African racing.

Media Enquiries:

Turf TV:
New Century Media (Charlie Methven, David Burnside)                   0207 930 8033

Alphameric:
New Century Media (Simon Goodley)                                                0207 930 8033