1 March 2010
Lawfuel.com –
London ― DLA Piper’s London-based sports team recently advised a group of 17 independent racecourses on their sale of audiovisual and data rights to Amalgamated Racing Limited, which supplies the tailored “Turf TV” racing television service to licensed bookmakers’ offices (LBOs) in the UK and Ireland.
The deal follows Turf TV’s successful defence of the high court proceedings brought by SIS relating to the competition law implications of the entry into the market of Turf TV, which is part owned by the racecourses. Prior to Turf TV’s launch, SIS was the sole provider of racing pictures to LBOs.
DLA Piper’s team was led by partner Nick Fitzpatrick and Associate John Cloke from the firm’s Media and Sport group. The team had previously advised the same courses on the sale of their audiovisual rights to Racing UK, a direct-to-home satellite channel.
Nick Fitzpatrick, commented: “We were delighted to play a part in this groundbreaking deal, which took place against a complex legal background and in a unique rights landscape. It will enhance the competitiveness of the LBO racing pictures market, which is excellent news for the racecourses.”
Bill Farnsworth, General Manager at Musselburgh Racecourse, commented: “The 17 independent racecourses are delighted to have negotiated terms with TurfTV for their LBO picture and data rights to 2018. It is an evolving and complex marketplace and the leadership provided by Nick Fitzpatrick and his team at DLA Piper was very helpful and professional.”
ENDS
