Victory for turf TV in battle with bookies

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Mr Justice Morgan ruled that the launch of Turf TV by a group of the most prestigious racecourses in england and technology company Alphameric had not broken competition law.

The news sent shares in Turf TV's 50%-owner Alphameric galloping up 28% or 5p to 22"p. however, the infighting in the notoriously internecine industry is not yet finished.

Turf TV is counter-suing the bookmakers, claiming they acted in collusion or as a cartel in a bid to strangle Turf TV at birth.

A ruling on the counter-claim, which could see the bookmakers having to pay several million pounds in costs and compensation, is expected next month.

Last year, Turf TV backed by more than half the country's 59 courses led by the likes of Ascot, Newmarket, Cheltenham and Aintree, broke the betting shop racing pictures monopoly of SIS - Satellite Information Services, coowned by the big bookies.

The notion that the big bookmakers like Ladbrokes and William hill would have to pay a new supplier for the best racing caused a revolt and the litigation that led to an eight-week high Court case and today's ruling.

In reality, Turf TV has already become established as, one-by-one, last winter the leading bookmaking firms caved in to take Turf TV's pictures which cost them £6500 a year per betting shop on top of the charges of SIS which come in at around £10,000 per shop per annum.

"This is good news for us and for the betting shop experience of the punter," said Turf TV chairman Alan Morcombewho is also chief executive of Alphameric.

"The high Court has ruled that we were entitled to enter this market and we believe this is a mandate for us to deliver even better services."

Turf TV expects to be profitable by 2010 on expected revenues from the nation's 10,500 betting shops of around £65 million.

"We are disappointed with the ruling," said a spokesman for Ladbrokes.