Churchill Downs Purchases Interest in HRTV
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Churchill Downs has purchased a 50-percent interest in Magna Entertainment s horse racing TV channel, HRTV. Both Churchill Downs and Magna Entertainment will work to offer as much of their respective live export simulcast content as possible on HRTV and will actively explore how the television medium can be used to more effectively serve horse racing customers and the industry as a marketing vehicle. HRTV will seek additional content providers who wish to televise their horse racing content alongside the Churchill Downs and Magna Entertainment content.
As part of its 2007 offerings, HRTV will broadcast Target Louisville, a 30-minute television program highlighting the training, workouts and final preparations of Kentucky Derby contenders. Target
Louisville will air daily during the week leading up to the 133rd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
With the inclusion of Churchill Downs-owned racing content on HRTV this television channel becomes a significant destination for horse racing fans, continued Neuman. With Magna Entertainment and Churchill Downs serving as anchor tenants, HRTV represents a subscriber acquisition opportunity for carriers and a distribution opportunity for content providers to consider as their television rights become available.