Owned by Betfair Country United States Sister channel(s) TVG2 CEO Kip Levin (May 2014–) DirecTV 602 (SD only) | Slogan A Betting Evolution Language English Dish Network 399 (SD only) Verizon FiOS 315 (SD) Broadcast area Nationwide | |
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Launched July 14, 1999 (1999-07-14) Picture format 720p (HDTV)
480i (SDTV) Headquarters Los Angeles, California, United States Profiles | ||
TVG Network ("TVG" being an initialism for its official name Television Games Network) is an American sports-oriented digital cable and satellite television network that is owned by Betfair Group plc. Dedicated to horse racing, the channel broadcasts live races as well as race analysis, interviews, handicapping tips, feature stories on the horses and legends of racing, and programs such as "The Works," featuring daily training and workouts of horses leading up to the Breeders' Cup.
Contents
- Background
- Wagering services
- List of participating tracks
- Programming
- Current programming
- Current on air staff
- High definition
- References
TVG Network is an interactive channel that combines live televised coverage from over 100 premier racetracks around the world, and allows viewers to make wagers online, by phone and (where available) through a set-top remote control. When TVG launched in 1999, it was the first and only television network in the United States to be devoted to horse racing. It is currently the largest interactive horse racing network, and is available in more than 30 million pay television households nationwide.
Background
The channel was launched on July 14, 1999, and was founded by the United Video Satellite Group, the then-owners of the TV Guide Network (now Pop) and TV Guide magazine (from which the "TVG" initials were partially taken). On October 5, 1999, Gemstar International Group Ltd. purchased United Video Satellite Group. In May 2006, TVG introduced several new programs to its schedule including Morning Line, Fandicapping, :58 Flat, Lady Luck (an all-female panel discussion program focusing on the day's races) and Drive Time (which covered exclusive racing from the Meadowlands). TVG also provides "all access" coverage on select weekends. TVG places microphones on select jockeys, owners, trainers, and the starting crew to give viewers an inside look at racing.
The channel formerly operated a fictional betting site, TVGfree.net, which allowed it to have a presence in the fifteen states which prohibit televised and off-track betting, operating similarly to poker sites which use the .net domain to differentiate their fictional betting sites from the .com sites which allow real gambling. The site was discontinued at the start of 2012 due to a site upgrade, and currently redirects to TVG.com.
In late February 2007, TVG ended its longtime affiliation with Churchill Downs Incorporated. On May 2, 2008, Gemstar-TV Guide was acquired by Macrovision (now Rovi Corporation) for $2.8 billion. Macrovision, which purchased Gemstar-TV Guide mostly to boost the value of its lucrative VCR Plus+ and electronic program guide patents, later stated that it was considering a sale of TVG, TV Guide Network and the TV Guide print edition's namesake to other parties. In late 2008, Macrovision sold TVG to Betfair for $50 million in cash consideration. The deal was consummated on January 27, 2009, separating the channel from the company which acquired its founding owner in 2007.
In February 2015, Betfair acquired TVG's sole competitor, HRTV, and began to consolidate it into TVG's facilities. The network was re-branded as a sister network, TVG2, in October 2015. TVG's CEO Kip Levin explained that the merger allowed the company to "better utilize TVG's state-of-the-art television facilities to deliver a premium product for both networks. We look forward to continuing to work with our important track and distribution partners to deliver more races and higher-quality broadcasts to racing fans like never before."
Wagering services
TVG offers wagering services to residents of Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. TVG account holders are able to wager online at TVG.com, or by landline or mobile phone.
List of participating tracks
EX Indicates a racetrack that TVG maintains an agreement to be the exclusive horse racing broadcaster of that track's races.The following tracks are available for wagering at TVG.com (listed alphabetically):
TVG also shows races from international tracks in Australia, Dubai, Great Britain, Ireland and Japan.
Programming
TVG covers over 100 tracks, with exclusive coverage of several tracks, including North American tracks such as Woodbine Race Course, Keeneland Race Course, Del Mar Racetrack, Meadowlands, Suffolk Downs and Monmouth Park. The network also broadcasts races from various tracks in Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland and Japan. TVG coverage includes events such as the Travers Stakes, Haskell Invitational, Pacific Classic, Hollywood Gold Cup, Blue Grass Stakes, Wood Memorial, Melbourne Cup, Japan Cup and the All American Futurity.
Current programming
Current on-air staff
High definition
TVG HD is a high definition simulcast feed of TVG, that broadcasts in the 720P resolution format. The HD feed was launched on April 4, 2014.