END IN SIGHT FOR MEDIA RIGHTS BATTLE Today`s decision by the Racecourse Association to recommend its 59 members to sign up to a two-week exclusivity period with Go Racing over Carlton`s bid means the protracted battle for the sport`s media and internet rights has entered the final furlong. Go Racing is a consortium made up of Arena Leisure - operators of Folkestone, Lingfield, Southwell, Windsor, Wolverhampton and Worcester - BSkyB and Channel 4. They have offered a minimum guarantee of Stg. £320million over 10 years, with £80m in marketing commitment. There will be a guaranteed payment of £50m in the first year. The Super 12 racecourses - Britain`s leading tracks - began negotiating their media rights a year ago but in February BSkyB withdrew a £122m offer over seven years. Later that month a partnership of Channel 4, BBC and NTL offered £225m plus a share of interactive betting income, but when agreement could not be reached, pulled out in July. Arena Leisure then offered a minimum of £178m over 10 years to all 59 racecourses for interactive rights, plus a share of global betting income. In September this was extended to a minimum of £320m for all rights. Last month Carlton joined in negotiations, offering a total of £400m, only to be followed by the team of Arena Leisure, BSkyB and Channel 4 offering the same amount. And today following a board meeting of the RCA, the trade association for Britain`s courses, Go Racing was given the exclusivity period with a view to concluding a contract the terrestrial and interactive rights for a 10-year period.
