Supplier News
Australia – Sky Racing to offer HD racing
By Phil - 6 April 2016
In a coup for Australian racing, Sky Racing has announced viewers will soon experience Australian racing in high definition for the first time.
Sky Thoroughbred Central (FOXTEL channel 521) will commence broadcast of high definition Australian racing in time for Championships Day 1 at Royal Randwick in mid-April.
The high definition broadcast capability is thanks to Sky Racing working with Telstra to create a purpose built network that connects 137 racetracks across Australia to Sky Racing’s headquarters in Frenchs Forest NSW.
The new connection will use Telstra’s Digital Video Network and forms the largest installation of the platform in Australia to date.
The upgrade will see Sky Racing’s broadcast of thoroughbred races from NSW, Queensland and the ACT move from standard to high definition from April 1.
Tabcorp’s Chief Operating Officer, Wagering and Media, Craig Nugent is thrilled to deliver another first for Australian racing.
Sky Racing and Tabcorp are committed to investing in the best racing broadcast capabilities available,” Mr Nugent said. “We’re proud to be the first broadcaster to deliver Australian racing in native high definition in this country in time for The Championships. Sky is possibly the world’s biggest broadcaster of live sporting events, covering 100,000 races each year. In addition to delivering HD racing vision to our customers, this investment with Telstra will also allow for the opportunity for future broadcast enhancements.”
The high definition version of Sky Thoroughbred Central is available to FOXTEL customers with a HD subscription. Customers with a HD subscription will have immediate access to the HD version of the channel from April 1.
