SIS and Turf TV to move closer together

The news that principle betting industry media content supplier SIS has approached arch rival TurfTV about the possibility of supplying the ’new kid on the block’ with a wide range of audio, video and data services, suggests that the current economic climate is beginning to hit home even amongst those that have long appeared to avoid all direct content with each other, writes Elliot Slater.

The two companies have been at daggers drawn ever since TurfTV emerged on the scene in 2007 and managed to prise a significant number of SIS’s clients and business away from the long established horse racing content provider. Both firms now have teams of people transmitting betting shows from the track, and both firms have separate sets of data presentation to customers that means in many cases betting shops have to pay two sets of bills.

With racing tips betting shop owners squealing about the rising costs allied to the falling number of people actually coming through the door, and the very difficult trading conditions that have been impacted by the general economic downturn, it looks as though common sense may well be about to prevail and that the two rivals may undergo some degree of merger to reduce overheads and keep costs down to a minimum.

Whilst stressing to horse racing Ireland that both firms would remain independent entities, David Holgate, SIS chief executive, explained that the offer to TurfTV was more by way of wishing to protect the interests of customers than to be a money making ruse for his firm. It should be remembered that much of the stock in SIS is owned by major high street firms who have been squeezed by the additional costs resulting from the emergence of TurfTV.

‘Rationalisation’ would seem to be the core of this suggestion, a reducing of costs and doubtless manpower that will help balance the books of both firms. It will be very interesting to see if TurfTV choose to accept the hand of friendship that has been offered them.