Racecourse Media Group and SIS extend partnership

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and Sports Information Services (SIS) have extended their existing LBO (licensed betting offices) partnership to encompass international pool betting and fixed odds rights (including retail and online).

RMG manages the rights of many of the leading British racecourses, while SIS holds the horse racing rights to all Irish racecourses, plus Chelmsford City Racecourse in the U.K.

SIS and RMG are about to embark on a five-year deal on 1 April for the distribution of audio-visual pictures and data to LBOs across Great Britain and Ireland, and the two organizations have agreed to extend the partnership to market their rights in a wider international agreement from 1 January 2019.

The new agreement means that:

• RMG will control the pool betting service globally for horseracing content from RMG, Ireland and Chelmsford City.
• SIS will control the fixed odds betting service for RMG and SIS content, which includes Irish racecourses, Chelmsford City, international, greyhound and virtual racing.

RMG Chief Executive Richard FitzGerald said, "This exciting new agreement with SIS is a natural extension of our partnership following on from our LBO rights agreement. It is a strategic, long-term approach to RMG's media rights, which will result in cost savings, revenue enhancements and the opportunity to grow and promote our quality racing. And, of course, all RMG's profits are paid to its racecourse shareholders."

SIS Chief Executive Richard Ames added, "We are thrilled to announce this new agreement with RMG, which builds on our existing deal for retail rights. The rights extension, which now covers international markets, will help support our strategic drive to promote short form betting content internationally and to maximize the value of British and Irish horse racing by raising its profile on a global scale."