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Bit Of A Yarn

Addington trackside coverage


the galah

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Race 1 they had no lead in whatsoever,crossing over as they lined up?  Are those who run trackside aware they have a meeting being run. I've always said some of those employed at trackside couldn't care less whether they cover harness racing. Race 1 just more proof of that.

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32 minutes ago, the galah said:

Race 1 they had no lead in whatsoever,crossing over as they lined up?  Are those who run trackside aware they have a meeting being run. I've always said some of those employed at trackside couldn't care less whether they cover harness racing. Race 1 just more proof of that.

Was thinking that myself Galah.

Hey there was a big jumps race on though from OZ that every NZ punter would know the form to and would have had a big punt!

As I have said previously, the NZ TAB does not give a rats about harness racing in NZ, the money to them is from OZ as the costs are so low.

The fact that it is a Premier meeting means nothing to them!

 

 

 

 

Edited by Brodie
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18 minutes ago, Brodie said:

Hey there was a big jumps race on though from OZ that every NZ punter would know the form to and would have had a big punt!

It WAS a big jumps race with a kiwi connection - the second horse Zed Em ridden by Adam Kuru.

However that aside you are correct that the revenue earning races are from OZ at this time of day on a Saturday.  Low cost and good margins for the TAB.  In saying that Harness should be aware that the revenue earned from those races DON'T get distributed to harness or the dogs in NZ but to Thoroughbred racing.

I've said many many times an official inquiry should be done into how we got to the current broadcasting agreement/outsource contract.  It stinks and is costing well north of $12m a year.  It will get worse as some of the activities previously paid for by TABNZ has been devolved to each of the codes.  For example code marketing.

That is why I have serious doubts about Woodham and Brooks given their history and involvement in setting up the whole scenario we now face.

 

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26 minutes ago, the galah said:

Yes,a  jumps race with 5 runners took preference for trackside. 

You can't tell me that aussie race had more nz money bet on it than the addington race.

It was an incompetent decision by someone in trackside.

I'm not saying anything other than the way it is.  You are looking at it from a harness fan perspective - Harness has no control over Trackside.  Thoroughbred Racing has most of what is now limited control.

You will find that the two female studio presenters on Trackside One today were based in a "Studio" at Te Rapa.  I wouldn't be surprised if the Trackside 2 presenters weren't in a room in Parnell at the vendors "production" facility.  

In terms of "Trackside" you'll find that there isn't an organisation as such any more i.e. there isn't a producer and director that have extensive knowledge of racing managing the programming each day.  They are running on a shoe string budget such is the impact of the contract they signed up to.  This is the group that got the sweet deal https://www.nepgroup.co.nz/ who occupy the ex Trackside offices in Parnell leased from a large Waikato Stud.

Anyone seen where Roger Randall is nowadays?

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On 4/3/2021 at 2:02 PM, Chief Stipe said:

Do any of these people know anything about racing?

https://www.nepgroup.co.nz/about/management-team

You are so way out of touch when it comes to this subject

That NEP group run the day to day studio operations...such as the equipment etc and supply some staff I believe such as sound engineers, technical staff. All they are involved with is the studio operations, not running the racing schedule or deciding whats shown and whats not shown.

That comes down to trackside who still have a team there who are tab paid employees who are producers, directors, graphics operations, editors etc who produce the day to day racing content. Those people are tab staff not nep staff.

 

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23 minutes ago, Bill said:

All they are involved with is the studio operations, not running the racing schedule or deciding whats shown and whats not shown.

That comes down to trackside who still have a team there who are tab paid employees who are producers, directors, graphics operations, editors etc who produce the day to day racing content. Those people are tab staff not nep staff.

"So out of touch" am I?  Pray tell how do you know so much - "Bill"?

Now getting back to the original post in this Topic.  So we can blame "Trackside" for scheduling and programming stuff ups then?

If they do "still have a team" at NEP what the hell are we actually getting for the outsourced contract?  Seems to be we are paying through the nose for less than we had before. 

Also how many TAB NZ employees are allocated to "Trackside"?  Doesn't seem to be any answers in the paucity of financial information form TAB NZ.

If there are staff at "Trackside" why do we now often see no oncourse presenters?

Who runs the entity called "Trackside"?  The codes?  TAB NZ? Or both?

Why did it take fund raising from David Ellis at Te Akau to get Weigh In back on air if there are all these "producers, directors, graphic operations, editors already employed?

I'm sure that someone as yourself who is "in touch" will have all the answers.

To me it seems we are paying twice for less and that isn't even accounting for the extraordinary amount paid to NEP!   

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On 4/3/2021 at 5:22 PM, the galah said:

Race 1 they had no lead in whatsoever,crossing over as they lined up?  Are those who run trackside aware they have a meeting being run. I've always said some of those employed at trackside couldn't care less whether they cover harness racing. Race 1 just more proof of that.

I also get the impression that some of the presenters ain't that fussed being stuck in a studio all day,O'Connor didn't last long,a jobs a job I guess.

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2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

"So out of touch" am I?  Pray tell how do you know so much - "Bill"?

Now getting back to the original post in this Topic.  So we can blame "Trackside" for scheduling and programming stuff ups then?

Partly yes, but the time schedules are done by those in the wagering area...I think they decided what races are on what channel...I believe there is a website that has all the racetimes on it a 4/6 weeks out that the clubs can access.

If they do "still have a team" at NEP what the hell are we actually getting for the outsourced contract?  Seems to be we are paying through the nose for less than we had before. 
 

Not having to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on maintaining equipment of broadcast studios. before they shifted to akl it was housed in lower hutt at tvnz studios and im told it was a similar sort of arrangement tvnz

Also how many TAB NZ employees are allocated to "Trackside"?  Doesn't seem to be any answers in the paucity of financial information form TAB NZ.

cant get a number on that, but less than this tike last year after they made people redundant

If there are staff at "Trackside" why do we now often see no oncourse presenters?

it was pointed out that cuts in budgets because of covid etc this time last year when they were in the shit halted this to save money on staff members on course.

Who runs the entity called "Trackside"?  The codes?  TAB NZ? Or both?

wel its called tab trackside so i guess there’s your answer 

Why did it take fund raising from David Ellis at Te Akau to get Weigh In back on air if there are all these "producers, directors, graphic operations, editors already employed?

Budget & staffing cuts again I presume

I'm sure that someone as yourself who is "in touch" will have all the answers.

To me it seems we are paying twice for less and that isn't even accounting for the extraordinary amount paid to NEP!   

Have people that are close to the action. Some answers above

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11 minutes ago, Bill said:

Partly yes, but the time schedules are done by those in the wagering area...I think they decided what races are on what channel...I believe there is a website that has all the racetimes on it a 4/6 weeks out that the clubs can access.

How can it be "partly"?

The issue that was raised in this topic has nothing to do with racetimes but about COVERAGE of local racing for local punters and fans.

12 minutes ago, Bill said:

Not having to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on maintaining equipment of broadcast studios. before they shifted to akl it was housed in lower hutt at tvnz studios and im told it was a similar sort of arrangement tvnz

Do you know how long ago Avalon was closed to Trackside?  2013.  Are you across the deals done to move into the Parnell building owned by a major Thoroughbred Stud?  Including financing deals to Roger Randall and Co.?  I suggest you do some homework.

20 minutes ago, Bill said:

it was pointed out that cuts in budgets because of covid etc this time last year when they were in the shit halted this to save money on staff members on course.

Why has it continued?  What is the extra cost of having a Studio at Te Rapa?  Is this for convenience for the Waikato based "presenters"?

21 minutes ago, Bill said:

Who runs the entity called "Trackside"?  The codes?  TAB NZ? Or both?

wel its called tab trackside so i guess there’s your answer

So you don't really know?  Are you "out of touch"?

22 minutes ago, Bill said:

Why did it take fund raising from David Ellis at Te Akau to get Weigh In back on air if there are all these "producers, directors, graphic operations, editors already employed?

Budget & staffing cuts again I presume

Well it can't be staffing cuts can it as you said that there are still "producers, directors, graphic operations and editors."

So you suggest it was also due to "Budget cuts" but how can you cut a budget when you have signed up to a fixed long term contract?  Sounds more and more like the contract that was signed up to is not fit for purpose.

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2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

How can it be "partly"?

The issue that was raised in this topic has nothing to do with racetimes but about COVERAGE of local racing for local punters and fans.

Do you know how long ago Avalon was closed to Trackside?  2013.  Are you across the deals done to move into the Parnell building owned by a major Thoroughbred Stud?  Including financing deals to Roger Randall and Co.?  I suggest you do some homework.

Why has it continued?  What is the extra cost of having a Studio at Te Rapa?  Is this for convenience for the Waikato based "presenters"?

So you don't really know?  Are you "out of touch"?

Well it can't be staffing cuts can it as you said that there are still "producers, directors, graphic operations and editors."

So you suggest it was also due to "Budget cuts" but how can you cut a budget when you have signed up to a fixed long term contract?  Sounds more and more like the contract that was signed up to is not fit for purpose.

Not debating the deal with the prominent stud owner etc with the blokes from NZ Live etc who were only there to make a quick buck and that’s what they did.

Wasn’t a good deal and never was a good deal, no doubt about that.

Thats all i have to say on the matter, not replying to this thread anymore. If you wish to message privately then go ahead

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14 hours ago, Bill said:

Not debating the deal with the prominent stud owner etc with the blokes from NZ Live etc who were only there to make a quick buck and that’s what they did.

Wasn’t a good deal and never was a good deal, no doubt about that.

Thats all i have to say on the matter, not replying to this thread anymore. If you wish to message privately then go ahead

Feel free to message me.  But in my opinion this issue needs to be discussed.  Your choice if you participate or not.  The facts are that it seems the industry is paying more for broadcasting and the customer is getting less service.  That needs to be investigated.  

The deal with NEP is a long term one and is part of the $30m creditor default that required the Government bailout.  We haven't seen a detailed annual report from the TAB since 2019.  The last half yearly result had a paucity of detail and was only one page on the TAB NZ website.

There has been various levels of skulduggery done over the last ten years starting with the very dubious Randall deal and it hasn't stopped with NEP.  We have also seen costs shunted on and off as well as hidden on the balance sheet particularly under Allen/Brooks tenure.  Now we have Brooks as the Harness nomination for the Board!

An investigation needs to be undertaken.

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