ARC signs Tabcorp, Vermantia deals, extends with BAGS

UK racecourse owner and operator Arena Racing Company (ARC) has secured new rights deals with omni-channel content solutions provider Vermantia and Australian wagering company Tabcorp and has also extended a partnership with the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS).

Vermantia has agreed a long-term deal to distribute ARC’s premium greyhound racing content from both the UK and Australia.

Vermantia will serve as the exclusive supplier of ARC’s portfolio of established greyhound content in a number of markets, including most of South and Eastern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.

In addition, Vermantia will become ARC’s preferred partner worldwide for producing and delivering bespoke channels to retail operators.

Meanwhile, Tabcorp has also secured a long-term agreement to distribute ARC’s UK greyhound racing coverage via its Sky Racing service in Australia.

Tabcorp will also offer wagering on greyhound races broadcast and streamed by Sky Racing and will distribute both horse and greyhound racing content from its Sky Racing service for online and retail distribution in various territories across Europe.

In addition, ARC, which represents the media interests of the Greyhound Media Group, has renewed a deal with the BAGS to make fixtures from 12 greyhound tracks in the UK available to the betting industry.

The deal, which comes into effect from January 1, 2018, will cover venues at Belle Vue, Kinsley, Newcastle, Nottingham, Perry Barr, Peterborough, Poole, Sheffield, Sunderland, Swindon, Towcester and Yarmouth.

BAGS will be able to grant rights to the fixtures to bookmakers for use in licensed betting offices across the UK and Ireland.

The Racing Partnership (TRP), a joint venture between ARC and seven UK independent racecourses, will be licensed to supply the fixtures to independent bookmakers on its existing channel.

ARC will oversee and manage the distribution of rights to international markets and the streaming rights for online betting operators.