TVG's appeal to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, of which it is a marketing partner, in large part came from its plan to have widespread distribution on basic cable. But expansion has come slowly -- in part because of complications on the corporate level -- and the NTRA has failed to generate much revenue from the TVG wagering system.An in-home wagering network has been available in the Louisville market for years. On Demand Services, which laid the groundwork for TVG, received Kentucky Racing Commission approval to begin an in-home wagering test in 1994. Since that time, live racing has been available on the cable television system.TVG has deployed its wagering platforms in four states -- Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, and Oregon, where its betting hub is located.
After years of waiting, the TV Games Network finally will become available on a cable television system other than the one in Louisville, Ky. On Dec. 28, Insight Communications, as part of an increase in the number of channels offered to customers, is scheduled to add TVG as part of its basic package.TVG is one of four new analog channels. Insight also has about 12,500 customers who are hooked into its expanding digital system."We are very pleased that TVG will be available to all Insight cable subscribers in Lexington," said John Hindman, TVG's vice president of communications. "Our product has already been well-received in that market on The Dish Network and we expect an enthusiastic response on cable there as well. This is an example of the value that TVG is capable of delivering to the industry -- a dedicated horse racing channel with quality programming that is broadly distributed to mainstream markets on basic cable television."