(More, TVG)
The TV Games Network will make its long-awaited debut on Lexington cable television Thursday. As usual, racing from Aqueduct, Calder Race Course, Fair Grounds, and Turfway Park will be offered in the afternoon.TVG has been available on cable television in the Louisville, Ky., market for two years, and before that, its predecessor, On Demand Services, offered live racing on cable TV in that market. In Lexington, Insight Communications has slotted TVG as Channel 50.Racetracks owned by Magna Entertainment aren't available on TVG, including Santa Anita Park, which opened Tuesday, and Gulfstream Park, which opens Jan. 3. Magna chairman Frank Stronach has talked about having his own television distribution system, and in fact is expected to pick up a piece of The Racing Network when Magna purchases Ladbroke at The Meadows in western Pennsylvania. Magna announced last week it intends to buy the racetrack, Ladbroke's Call-A-Bet account wagering operation, four off-track betting outlets, and a portion of The Racing Network for $53 million.Kentucky's Thoroughbred tracks are TVG partners. Racing from Turfway, which is open through early April, is a regular feature, and Keeneland officials have said they expect their races will be shown live in the Lexington market when the spring meet begins at the conclusion of the Turfway meet.Insight Communications is based in New York and has operations in California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. In 1999, the company completed a joint venture with InterMedia Partners to acquire a 50% interest in and management control of InterMedia's Kentucky systems, which gave it an additional 420,000 customers.
