TVG, NYRA extend television deal

Television Games Network and the New York Racing Association have reached a multiyear extension to an existing contract giving TVG the rights to broadcast and offer betting on NYRA’s races over a variety of platforms, the two sides said Tuesday, four days before the opening of the summer meet at NYRA’s Saratoga Race Course.

Terms of the extension were not disclosed. Under the previous deal, TVG held nonexclusive rights to broadcast NYRA’s races, sharing them with HRTV, TVG’s main competitor. Both networks have account-wagering operations, and betting on NYRA’s races will continue to be available on both services along with other account-wagering operators such as twinspires.com.

Under the terms of the extension, TVG will sponsor the Acorn Stakes at NYRA’s Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes Day, the Diana Stakes at Saratoga, and the so-called “Super Saturday” card at Belmont on Sept. 27. The company sponsored the Acorn under the previous agreement.

Over the past year, TVG has begun sending out a high-definition feed to cable and satellite providers, but only a handful of providers have relayed the HD version to subscribers because of limited broadcast capabilities. NYRA is one of several track operators in the United States to invest in HD equipment, and the release announcing the extension said that TVG “will increase the exposure” for NYRA’s HD telecasts.

TVG is available in 36 million households, TVG said, through cable/satellite providers and through simulcasts on regional FOX Sports affiliates.