TAB Trackside

Last updated

Trackside
Trackside1nz.png Trackside2nz.png TAB Trackside Radio Logo 2015.png
CountryNew Zealand
Broadcast areaNew Zealand
Programming
Picture format 16:9 (HDTV)
Ownership
Owner TAB New Zealand
History
Launched1978
Former namesTV: Action TV, TAB TV, TAB Trackside
Radio: TAB Trackside Radio, Radio Pacific, bSport, LiveSport
Links
Website Official Website
Availability
Streaming media
Sky Go skygo.co.nz

Trackside (previously known as TAB Trackside) is a New Zealand horse racing and sports broadcast network, incorporating two free-to-air television channels. The TV channels are available on Sky as well as Freeview terrestrial and streaming services. [1] [2] The radio station broadcasts on 14 AM radio and 16 FM radio frequencies from Kaitaia to Invercargill were suspended on 12 April 2020. [3]

Contents

Together, the outlets provide full coordinated coverage of all thoroughbred horse racing, harness horse racing and greyhound racing in New Zealand, most racing from Australia, and many races from Hong Kong, Singapore and other countries. The channels provides tickers and commentary with up-to-the-minute odds, field and dividend information. Between races, they feature on-track interviews, in-studio analysis, live footage of horses warming up for races, replays of previous races, and recaps of betting odds. [1] [2]

The live broadcasting of horse racing in the New Zealand dates back to the launch of a racing radio network in 1978. The station, originally known as Radio Pacific and later as bSport and LiveSport, became TAB Trackside Radio. [4] A racing television station launched in 1992, initially known as Action TV and later as Trackside, is now Trackside 1. A second racing television station launched in 2007, known initially as TAB TV, is now Trackside 2. [1]

History

Radio Pacific

This was the Radio Pacific logo in 1991. Radio Pacific logo.gif
This was the Radio Pacific logo in 1991.

Racing network Radio Pacific began in Auckland in 1978, and became one of the first commercial stations to be networked across the country in the early 1990s. The network combined news, news talkback, sports talkback and live racing commentaries. [5] [6]

Radio Pacific became a listed company on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and the Totalisator Agency Board became its major shareholder. Radio Pacific's Waikato station began as Radio Waikato, New Zealand's third privately owned station. It originally broadcast in 930AM in 1971, before moving 954AM in 1978. In 1986 Radio Waikato changed to a country music format and was renamed Country Gold - Waikato 954. In 1988 it was sold to Radio Pacific and transitioned into a local talk radio format with national racing commentary. It changed its name to Radio Pacific and eventually replaced local programmes with Auckland networked programmes. A new station of the same name also operated in Hamilton between 1993 and 1994. [7]

Other radio stations

This was the LiveSport logo in 2010. LiveSport historical logo.png
This was the LiveSport logo in 2010.

The company also owned the North Island music station group Energy Enterprises and merged with the South Island radio company Radio Otago in 1999. Between May 2000 and January 2001 it was purchased by CanWest Global Communications, becoming part of RadioWorks and later part of MediaWorks New Zealand. Part of the company was purchased in July 2004, and the entire company was sold off in June 2007. [8]

Before 2005 live races and betting odds had been broadcast on Radio Pacific in pre-determined, limited periods during the race day under a contract with the New Zealand Racing Board. Between 2001 and 2005, this was also complemented by a trial Radio Trackside station in the Southland market dedicated to racing coverage. [9] [10] [11]

In 2005 MediaWorks launched new talkback network Radio Live and moved many of Radio Pacific's talkback personalities across to the new network. John Banks continued to host Radio Pacific's breakfast programme, and Alice Worsley and Martin Crump co-hosted a new morning talkback programme. A Trackside TV simulcast, branded as Radio Trackside, was broadcast in the afternoon. [9] [10] [11] On 29 October 2007 Radio Pacific became BSport and its tagline became "BSport, the station you can bet on". The general talkback format was replaced with a sports talkback format. MediaWorks New Zealand and Trackside shared the network's Auckland studios, with live sports talk and betting odds in the morning, and live races and betting odds in the afternoon. [12]

In January 2010 BSport was renamed LiveSport, the sister network to Radio Live. It became TAB Trackside Radio on 13 April 2015, when it came under the full ownership of the New Zealand Racing Board. [12]

COVID-19, sale and buyback of radio frequencies

The radio simulcast on the AM and FM frequencies was suspended on 12 April 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, which saw all domestic horse and greyhound racing halted for several weeks. The simulcast of racing continued on the TAB website, TAB app and via third party apps. [13]

The full-powered broadcast licences previously broadcasting TAB Trackside Radio were purchased by the Australian Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) in 2021, which began broadcasting a general sport format known as SENZ, providing a continuous sports-talk format left open by the COVID-19-related closure of NZME's Radio Sport the previous year. [14]

However, following financial losses at the new station, a deal was reached in November 2023 - also involving the TAB's then-new operating partner Entain - for the TAB to buy back the frequencies and SENZ station assets, with SEN continuing to make content available and to source advertising revenue for the network; the sale completed on 29 February 2024. [15] [16]

Television

Trackside began television broadcasting in 1992 as Action TV - a free-to-air UHF station that only broadcast during live racing events. In 1993, it changed its name to Trackside. From 1994, Sky Television began using broadcasting Discovery Channel to subscribers when Trackside was in closedown. The station received a dedicated channel on the new Sky Digital platform in 1999, which began broadcasting 18 hours a day from 2004 and 24 hours a day from 2007. In addition to live New Zealand racing, the channel introduced racing replay, preview and review shows, and live racing and racing shows from Australia. The channel began broadcasting in widescreen from 15 December 2008. [17]

In October 2009, TAB introduced a second channel - TAB TV - to accommodate live racing from Hong Kong and Singapore. In December 2010, Trackside became available on the Freeview terrestrial service. In October 2013 it changed the TVNZ metadata on the Freeview satellite service to unlock access to Trackside TV, keeping TAB TV as a pay-TV channel. On 14 April 2014, it ceased operations on Freeview, becoming only available to Sky subscribers. In August 2014, Trackside TV and TAB TV were relaunched as TAB Trackside 1 and TAB Trackside 2, extending racing coverage from all codes and enabling up to 5000 additional races to be broadcast each year that were previously not scheduled. [18]

Programmes

Weekdays

Saturdays

Sundays

Stations

Radio frequencies

This is a map of TAB Trackside Radio frequencies. Map of TAB Trackside Radio frequencies.png
This is a map of TAB Trackside Radio frequencies.

These were the frequencies at the time of the April 2020 service suspension:[ needs update ]

Television channels

Trackside 1 broadcasts racing from all codes, both domestic and international, alongside specialist shows. [1] [18] [27] TAB Trackside 2 broadcasts racing from all codes, alongside simulcasts of TAB Trackside Radio weekday mornings from 6am. In 2011, it live simulcast Fill the Basin, a February 2011 Christchurch earthquake fundraiser cricket match, with Canterbury Television. The channels area available on the Sky Television DHS encrypted satellite services (062 Trackside 1, 063 Trackside 2) and Freeview terrestrial and streaming services (023 Trackside 1, 024 Trackside 2 [1]

Related Research Articles

Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. They may feature monologues, dialogues between the hosts, interviews with guests, and/or listener participation which may be live conversations between the host and listeners who "call in" or via voice mail. Listener contributions are usually screened by a show's producers to maximize audience interest and, in the case of commercial talk radio, to attract advertisers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radio New Zealand</span> Public-service radio broadcast network

Radio New Zealand, commonly known as Radio NZ or simply RNZ, is a New Zealand public-service radio broadcaster and Crown entity that was established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news and current-affairs network, RNZ National, and a classical-music and jazz network, RNZ Concert, with full government funding from NZ On Air. Since 2014, the organisation's focus has been to transform RNZ from a radio broadcaster to a multimedia outlet, increasing its production of digital content in audio, video, and written forms.

Simulcast is the broadcasting of programs or events across more than one resolution, bitrate or medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at exactly the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio. Likewise, the BBC's Prom concerts were formerly simulcast on both BBC Radio 3 and BBC Television. Another application is the transmission of the original-language soundtrack of movies or TV series over local or Internet radio, with the television broadcast having been dubbed into a local language.

More FM is a New Zealand radio network that plays hot adult contemporary music. It is operated by MediaWorks New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newstalk ZB</span> New Zealand talk radio network

Newstalk ZB is a nationwide New Zealand talk-radio network operated by NZME Radio. It is available in almost every radio market area in New Zealand, and has news reporters based in many of them. In addition to talkback, the network also broadcasts news, interviews, music, and sports. The network's hosts include Kate Hawkesby, Mike Hosking, Kerre Woodham, Simon Barnett, James Daniels, Heather du Plessis-Allan, Marcus Lush, Andrew Dickens, Jack Tame and Francesca Rudkin. Wellington and Christchurch have a local morning show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radio Sport</span> Radio station

Radio Sport was a New Zealand sports radio network and the talkback sister network of Newstalk ZB. It held commentary rights for most cricket matches, international and domestic rugby union games, NRL rugby league games, trans-Tasman basketball and New Zealand tennis tournaments.

The Breeze is a New Zealand radio station playing an adult contemporary music format owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. It airs in 25 markets across New Zealand and each market shows a mix of local and network programmes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radio Live</span> Radio station

Radio Live was a nationwide Auckland-based New Zealand talkback, news and sport radio network owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KIIS-FM</span> Contemporary hit radio station in Los Angeles

KIIS-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California, United States, and broadcasts to the Greater Los Angeles area. The station airs a Top 40 (CHR) format. Owned by iHeartMedia, KIIS-FM is the origin of the conglomerate's KISS-FM brand, and serves as the flagship station for the radio program On Air with Ryan Seacrest. KIIS-FM's studios are located in Burbank, while the station transmitter resides on Mount Wilson, north of Los Angeles.

Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A widespread programming genre that has a narrow audience appeal, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and callers. Many sports talk stations also carry play-by-play of local sports teams as part of their regular programming

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Totalisator Agency Board</span> Gambling agencies in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa

The Totalisator Agency Board, universally shortened to TAB or T.A.B., is the name given to monopoly totalisator organisations in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. They operate betting shops and online betting. They were originally government owned, but in Australia most have been privatised. In Victoria, for instance, the Victorian Totalisator Agency Board began operating in March 1961 as a state enterprise, and was privatised in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Best News Entertainment</span> New Zealand Asian media company

Best News Entertainment is a New Zealand television, radio and print media company specialising in media for Asian migrants and Asian language communities. It operates TV32, a free-to-air television channel on the Freeview platform and three 24-hour radio networks through terrestrial radio.

WDEL is a commercial AM radio station in Wilmington, Delaware, airing a news/talk radio format. Its programming is simulcast on co-owned station 101.7 WDEL-FM. WDEL broadcasts at 5,000 watts using a directional antenna, with its transmitter, studios and offices located on Shipley Road in Wilmington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports Entertainment Network</span> Australian & American Network Co

Sports Entertainment Network (SEN), formerly Crocmedia, is an Australian radio and television distribution company established in 2006. SEN's parent company is Sports Entertainment Group (SEG), formerly Pacific Star Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MediaWorks New Zealand</span> New Zealand-based radio, outdoor advertising and interactive media company

MediaWorks New Zealand is a New Zealand-based company specialising in radio, outdoor advertising and interactive media. It is jointly owned by U.S. company Oaktree Capital Management and out-of-home advertising company QMS. It operates eight national radio brands, eleven websites and one locally operated radio station.

The Sabres Hockey Network is the official radio network and production company of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). The network is currently operated jointly by the Sabres and Audacy, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC Radio Surrey</span> BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Surrey

BBC Radio Surrey is the BBC's local radio station serving Surrey, north-east Hampshire and north West Sussex.

RSN Racing & Sport is an Australian radio station in Australia. It broadcasts a sports radio format to Melbourne, and to much of Victoria through various repeater stations.

Chinese Voice is a Cantonese, Mandarin and English language radio network based in Auckland, New Zealand. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Best News Entertainment, an Asian language television, print and radio company, and consists of three station set up between 2003 and 2010. It produces more than 80 hours of local content each week, including live talkback on news stories, migrant issues, political developments and dealing with New Zealand Government agencies. The stations also broadcast imported talk and music programmes from China and Hong Kong.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "TAB Trackside TV". TAB Trackside. New Zealand Racing Board . Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "TAB Help - Trackside Radio". New Zealand Racing Board . Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  3. "TAB Trackside Radio Frequency Map". New Zealand Racing Board. Archived from the original on 4 February 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "TAB Trackside Radio". TAB Trackside. New Zealand Racing Board . Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  5. Morris William Shanahan, Karen Neill (2005). The Great New Zealand Radio Experiment. Thomson/Dunmore Press. p. 132. ISBN   0-17-012480-0 . Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  6. Lee-Robinson, Robinson (2008). Talkback Toast. Opitiki: Ocean Books. ISBN   978-0-473-13752-6.
  7. "Radio Waikato story". Radio Heritage. Radio Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  8. Decision No. 294 Archived 28 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine Commerce Commission, Wellington New Zealand, 1997.
  9. 1 2 Trevett, Claire. "Radio Live fires first shell in talkback war". The New Zealand Herald . New Zealand Media and Entertainment . Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  10. 1 2 Drinnan, John. "Listeners turning off Radio Sport". The New Zealand Herald . New Zealand Media and Entertainment . Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  11. 1 2 Marshall, Jonathan. "Revamp at talk station". The New Zealand Herald . New Zealand Media and Entertainment . Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  12. 1 2 "MediaWorks Notice". MediaWorks. MediaWorks New Zealand . Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  13. "TAB suspends FM and AM Trackside radio". www.rita.org.nz. Racing Industry Transition Agency. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  14. Peacock, Colin (30 May 2021). "The Australian outfit rebooting 24/7 sport on the radio". Mediawatch. RNZ National (Radio New Zealand). Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  15. "TAB New Zealand to acquire SENZ Digital & Audio from Sports Entertainment Network NZ" (Press release). Sports Entertainment Network. 22 November 2023. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  16. "Completion of sale of SENZ digital and audio business" (Press release). Sports Entertainment Group Ltd (Sports Entertainment Network). 29 February 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  17. "How to get the best of Trackside in widescreen" (PDF). TAB. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  18. 1 2 "Trackside on Sky". TAB. New Zealand Racing Board . Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  19. "Nathan Rarere NZ On Screen" . Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  20. "Nathan Rarere Outspoken" . Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  21. "2008 celebs announced..." Television New Zealand . Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "TAB Trackside shows". tab.co.nz. TAB. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  23. "Grant Nisbett: The man who's calling the shots". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  24. "Stephen McIvor". Speakers New Zealand. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  25. Maddaford, Terry (15 December 2001). "Soccer: Rufer - simply the best we've had". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  26. "Wynton Rufer appointed PNG national coach". pngfootball.com.pg. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  27. "How to get the best from Trackside in widescreen" (PDF). TAB. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2008.