Coral signs deal with TurfTV
24th December, 2007
Bookmaker Coral became the first of the big four to sign a deal with TurfTV which will allow it to televise races from all 59 British racecourses from January 1st.
The five year deal looks set to put pressure on the like of Ladbrokes, William Hill and Betfred to follow suit.
TurfTV is said to charging £6,500 per shop for coverage of the 31 races taking place on New Year ' s Day.
Neil Goulden, chief executive of Gala Coral, said: "We are pleased that lengthy negotiations have overcome our initial concerns relating to an unaffordable price and a disjointed two-channel service into our betting shops.
"We ignore the needs and desires of our customers at our mutual peril."
Coral will now televise races in 1,573 shops across the UK and is said to have managed to get a discount by signing up before 2008 kicks off.
A spokesman from Ladbrokes told the Telegraph newspaper that it remained "open to negotiation" with Turf TV.
