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View Full Version : Why I can't wait for December 26!


levinmpa
12-19-2008, 10:43 AM
Because I won't have to see TVG for the next 4 months!

With the shift to Winter racing at Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Fairgrounds and Tampa Bay Downs, I will not have to endure the pain of viewing TVG. HRTV is the only channel I will have on until the end of April, when the So Cal circuit switches back to Hollywood Park. Not only will I not have to endure the unprofessional talking heads, Pick 4 and Pick 6 touting, and poor presentation of TVG, but I get to enjoy Jeff Siegel, Laffit Pincay III, Gary Stevens, Jon White, Sean McCarthy and others on HRTV. I also get live races. HRTV will not delay a race 10 minutes so that it can show a post parade and tout Pick 4 and Pick 6 tickets for 10 minutes prior to the running of a So California event. If they can show a race live, they will do it. The only time you will see a tape delay is if 2 races are off simultaneously.

I will not have to wait 30 - 90 seconds after the horses cross the wire to see closing odds. HRTV pops up a final odds graphic immediately after the conclusion of the race. What a concept! TVG almost always has the current race 3rd or 4th in their odds rotation, so instead of popping a graphic on the screen with final odds, I have to wait for the idiocy of their odds rotation to see final odds.

I get the track video for all races. Unlike TVG, HRTV does not take it upon themselves to repackage the video that is presented to the viewer. For the next 4 months, I will get a split screen from Santa Anita, and other tracks that offer it on their live signal. I will get the graphics package coming from the track and won't have to see a TVG logo plastered all over the screen. I will not have to endure changing camera angles during the running of the race, as I do when watching So. Calif races on TVG. Why TVG feels a need to control the video during the live running of a race is beyond me. Thanks HRTV for not messing with the video coming from the track.

Best of all. No touting on HRTV! With the exception of Jon White playing a Pick 6 ticket on a few of the large carryover days, I do will not have to see the screen constantly plastered with Pick 4 and Pick 6 tickets. This is the thing I hate the most about TVG. Touting without accountability is unprofessional and amateurish.

So I am looking forward to 4 months of peaceful, enjoyable viewing of a professional presentation of the races on HRTV. In the best of all worlds, CDI or Tracknet buys TVG and it becomes HRTV2. And most of the TVG "talent" is given the pink slip. That would be a day for celebration.

MickJ26
12-19-2008, 12:05 PM
Because I won't have to see TVG for the next 4 months!

With the shift to Winter racing at Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Fairgrounds and Tampa Bay Downs, I will not have to endure the pain of viewing TVG. HRTV is the only channel I will have on until the end of April, when the So Cal circuit switches back to Hollywood Park. Not only will I not have to endure the unprofessional talking heads, Pick 4 and Pick 6 touting, and poor presentation of TVG, but I get to enjoy Jeff Siegel, Laffit Pincay III, Gary Stevens, Jon White, Sean McCarthy and others on HRTV. I also get live races. HRTV will not delay a race 10 minutes so that it can show a post parade and tout Pick 4 and Pick 6 tickets for 10 minutes prior to the running of a So California event. If they can show a race live, they will do it. The only time you will see a tape delay is if 2 races are off simultaneously.

I will not have to wait 30 - 90 seconds after the horses cross the wire to see closing odds. HRTV pops up a final odds graphic immediately after the conclusion of the race. What a concept! TVG almost always has the current race 3rd or 4th in their odds rotation, so instead of popping a graphic on the screen with final odds, I have to wait for the idiocy of their odds rotation to see final odds.

I get the track video for all races. Unlike TVG, HRTV does not take it upon themselves to repackage the video that is presented to the viewer. For the next 4 months, I will get a split screen from Santa Anita, and other tracks that offer it on their live signal. I will get the graphics package coming from the track and won't have to see a TVG logo plastered all over the screen. I will not have to endure changing camera angles during the running of the race, as I do when watching So. Calif races on TVG. Why TVG feels a need to control the video during the live running of a race is beyond me. Thanks HRTV for not messing with the video coming from the track.

Best of all. No touting on HRTV! With the exception of Jon White playing a Pick 6 ticket on a few of the large carryover days, I do will not have to see the screen constantly plastered with Pick 4 and Pick 6 tickets. This is the thing I hate the most about TVG. Touting without accountability is unprofessional and amateurish.

So I am looking forward to 4 months of peaceful, enjoyable viewing of a professional presentation of the races on HRTV. In the best of all worlds, CDI or Tracknet buys TVG and it becomes HRTV2. And most of the TVG "talent" is given the pink slip. That would be a day for celebration.



Preach on. I too look forward to the end of the Hollywood meet so they can actually show live races instead of fawning over the goings on in Southern California. I wish HRTV was available on my cable system.

fiveouttasix
12-19-2008, 12:32 PM
I agree 100%!

Tom
12-19-2008, 12:35 PM
:jump::jump::jump:

No Matty!!!!

onefast99
12-19-2008, 12:42 PM
I finally went out and got HRTV it gets hooked up on 12-29 it is thru Verizon and they told me it is channel 216 and TVG is 215. The only negative with TVG is trying to watch the thoroughbred meet at the Meadowlands and they are 15 minutes until post at Los Al and les and the gang are talking about how the soft pretzels are really tasty tonight before delving into the highlights of everyones pick 6 tix.:bang:

Mike_412
12-19-2008, 12:57 PM
I finally went out and got HRTV it gets hooked up on 12-29 it is thru Verizon and they told me it is channel 216 and TVG is 215.

Just a heads up that TVG is channel 315 and HRTV is channel 316. Congrats on getting Fios. I got it last December and absolutely love it.

onefast99
12-19-2008, 01:07 PM
Just a heads up that TVG is channel 315 and HRTV is channel 316. Congrats on getting Fios. I got it last December and absolutely love it.
Thanks, I cant wait to get rid of cablevision. While your at it is there any other horse racing channels on Fios?

cj's dad
12-19-2008, 01:15 PM
I normally watch and wager on TVG. As I read this thread, and since I was interested only in Tampa, I switched to HRTV. I have to say that I was shocked, no stunned, no flabbergasted to find that not only did they show commercials, they talked about and touted the upcoming meet at, brace yourself, Santa Anita. Those dirty rats, imagine talking about California racing, where I would imagine a high % of their wagering takes place

And, just now they for the 10th time in less than an hour, the hosts have mentioned the 50 cent pick 5 at the Fairground.

supercap
12-19-2008, 01:28 PM
Only thing good about TVG is Christina!!!!

cj
12-19-2008, 01:34 PM
Never let the facts get in the way of a good rant. :)

Christina is definitely a good thing.

OTM Al
12-19-2008, 01:37 PM
Hmmmmmm....another complaint about TVG......must be December

Tom Barrister
12-19-2008, 01:48 PM
Because I won't have to see TVG for the next 4 months!

(long negative tirade about TVG)


Who's twisting your arm to watch TVG now?

2low
12-19-2008, 01:55 PM
In my little world, TVG is responsible for two things:

1) Entertain casual would-be horseplayers and get/keep them interested in the game
2) Encourage new horseplayers to open accounts and wager a little more often.

If they are remotely successful at either or both, I'm a happy camper:ThmbUp:

I personally couldn't care less whether a committed horseplayer loves them or hates them.

Tom Barrister
12-19-2008, 02:16 PM
In my little world, TVG is responsible for two things:

1) Entertain casual would-be horseplayers and get/keep them interested in the game
2) Encourage new horseplayers to open accounts and wager a little more often.

If they are remotely successful at either or both, I'm a happy camper:ThmbUp:

I personally couldn't care less whether a committed horseplayer loves them or hates them.

Exactly. I've said many times that TVG is after the recreational horseplayers: mainly the young adult men who are from the generation of attention-span-of-a-gnat, instant-gratification, eye-candy-every-10-seconds-or-I-change-channels mentality. That's a tough sell for horse-racing with its 20-30 minutes between races, when slots can be played every few seconds, a casino table game or poker hand every couple of minutes, or a sports bet that will allow the bettor basically 2-4 hours of nonstop action. The only way horse racing can compete is to have simulcasting for as many tracks as possible. Much of of the young adult crowd doesn't want to pore over a Form, computer readouts, ratings, etc They don't want to handicap; they want selections to bet.

TVG knows all of this, and they cater to the short-attention-span types as well as they can. They know that the die-hard horseplayers probably aren't betting with TVG, probably don't patronize the sponsor commercials, and are using TVG for their own purposes. The die-hards are merely viewing numbers-boosts for advertising purposes. TVG doesn't have much reason to appeal to them.

BUD
12-19-2008, 04:39 PM
I have plenty of Horse racing on my computer, but if I did not stumble on TVG - TV personalities not withstanding I would be dead or still watching the game Show network in a vain attempt to use my Squash.

I played hockey in the Minors and I could not see me posting incessantly in a hockey forum that the NHL Network sucks--- Or Being a cop posting non stop the Tru TV blows---

Hell minus TVG and HRTV the Handle I hear complained about and its shrinking nature would be a little smaller-----

Just like me--I hate negativity--My life being a newly Crip is nothing but negative----But I find these I hate posts amusing----Granted---TVG could be so much more - Buts its current format it is married to------I can see why many dislike it----

I Have Direct TV---For the NFL Football Package----Have to watch my Nephew----So I had to give up HRTV------I sent Emails had others contact Direct to put HRTV on--------No go---Direct TV says besides me and a few no one is interested in that channel-----

I miss Race day America---HRTV still show that?

Tom
12-19-2008, 06:52 PM
Why would someone who is not a horse player even even turn on TVG?
Makes as much sense as NTRA when they used to put all their commercials on horse racing shows.....really going to find the newbies there! :D

If anything, TVG has been a major cause why I bet so much less than ever before.

BlueShoe
12-19-2008, 07:30 PM
I would bet my last two bucks that TVG hosts and/or managers lurk on this forum.If so,why do they not address some of our criticisms?While much of it may be sour grapes,much of it is constructive and would improve their presentation if they heeded our comments.

Marshall Bennett
12-19-2008, 11:41 PM
Production at TVG doesn't give a flying f*** what anyone thinks here . If they did , they would have made changes a long time ago . Nearly every week a new thread is aimed at their network . I'm sure other racing forums have members with simular views . If anything , they only seem to be getting worse . My set used to be tuned to TVG most of the day . Not anymore . Unless Rich Perloff is doing his thing alone , which is Mondays or Tuesdays , I'm watching HRTV .

NY BRED
12-20-2008, 07:41 AM
several questions :

are Fios/verizon and Dish the only providers for HRTV?

secondly, TVG does serve a purpose, especially when listening to their
picks, which I use to cross out as potential contenders.:lol:

rrbauer
12-20-2008, 08:25 AM
Production at TVG doesn't give a flying f*** what anyone thinks here . If they did , they would have made changes a long time ago.

Applies to everything about horse racing that I can think of.

BUD
12-20-2008, 09:33 AM
Tom Honestly with deep respect. I was not a horse Player I started leaving it on TVG longer and longer---Then I started playing---

I don't want to infer my experience has been universal

Nor is my situation one that replicates itself often

NoCal Boy
12-20-2008, 09:41 AM
Maybe because the management of TVG wants to buy TVG for themselves and thus lower its value to an outsider?

TVG is not worth hundreds of millions. It should not have taken this long to sell unless there simply are no buyers. Now its parent is saying a deal will be signed in early 2009. We will see to whom. Their actions defy logic on so many levels that I can only conclude existing management (Nathanson and crew) will leverage to buy it for a song given its declining value with the loss of exclusivities. Youbet alone paid TVG $20MM in licensing fees in 2008, my guess is that drops to well below $10MM next year when Del Mar, Oak Tree and Keeneland are no longer exclusive.

I still do not believe CDI is the buyer. Maybe I am wrong.

I would bet my last two bucks that TVG hosts and/or managers lurk on this forum.If so,why do they not address some of our criticisms?While much of it may be sour grapes,much of it is constructive and would improve their presentation if they heeded our comments.

BUD
12-20-2008, 10:38 AM
My dream even if its just on the computer is a site rise outta the ashes the caters to the veterans--souls like me All the varied players in the game----Gives races----Some shows --interviews--Then like Ray Paulick does puts the best of the blogs on his page---The new entity would interview some off the hot bloggers out there----Kind of wraps the product and the (whole)package together-----This could potentially put the product and the presentation in experienced well meaning hands.

Don't hammer me because of my ignorance please-----

Tom
12-20-2008, 10:55 AM
The can read can't they?

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions. :lol::lol::lol:

cj's dad
12-20-2008, 02:18 PM
several questions :

are Fios/verizon and Dish the only providers for HRTV?



No- Comcast Cable provides both w/ expanded basic service.

toetoe
12-20-2008, 04:18 PM
Lev,

I'm with you except for Jon White and "Deadeyes" Pincay. As Big Red Walton would say, "Pincay's HOR-RIBLE."

The Hawk
12-20-2008, 10:18 PM
Just a heads up that TVG is channel 315 and HRTV is channel 316. Congrats on getting Fios. I got it last December and absolutely love it.

Hey Mike:

Is the FIOS internet as fast (or faster) as Cablevision's internet service? I hear the installation is long, takes like 8 hours. Is that true? I would like to switch to them but wonder about the above.

Hey Bud:

That's interesting that you say that you weren't a fan until you started watching TVG. I'm one of those guys who think they can do so much better. Do you think you would have been a fan even if there was less banter and more racing? Did you find HRTV more or less entertaining, and informative, than TVG as a newcomer?

Also: who's your nephew?

Mike_412
12-21-2008, 01:34 AM
Hey Mike:

Is the FIOS internet as fast (or faster) as Cablevision's internet service? I hear the installation is long, takes like 8 hours. Is that true? I would like to switch to them but wonder about the above.

I didn't have Cablevision for internet service prior to getting Fios. I had Verizon DSL which obviously can't compare to the 20/5 package that I currently have with Fios. It's extremely fast, but consider what I'm coming off of. :)

Check this website out to maybe answer some questions that you have. It helped me make my decision as I didn't really know much about this stuff:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/vzfiber

There's a link for the TV side of things at the top of that page that you may find of interest as well.

As far as the installation, they told me to allow for 6 hours, but it took about 4 1/2. The guy got here around 12:00 and was done around 4:30. I got phone, tv, and internet hooked up, but my installation was rather easy according to the tech. He didn't have to run new cable wire as the previous hookup from DirecTV was relatively new. He threw the ONT up on the side of the house, ran the fiber from the pole, installed the battery backup in the basement, hooked up the router downstairs, and connected the tvs. Checked that everything worked and I was good to go.

I'd imagine that installs may vary depending on the area you live in and your personal setup at home. Good luck if you decide to give it a go.

The Hawk
12-21-2008, 10:56 AM
Thanks Mike, much appreciated!

Valuist
12-21-2008, 11:36 AM
HRTV is definitely better except for one aspect: the crawl. Many times HRTV will stop running the odds of other races. For instance, lets say their next televised race will be from the FG in 3 minutes. Then they just leave the FG odds up, leaving one in the dark on the odds from Aqu, Tam or other tracks that are running.

I never understood why TVG has always felt the need to have 3 guys doing live remotes. Does it matter if Ken Rudolph is in the studio or at Hollywood to tell viewers "enjoy" before the race? I do think Perloff, Carruthers and Bray are decent. Carruthers may rub some the wrong way but at least he's a legit horse bettor.

levinmpa
12-18-2009, 12:15 PM
Bump. Nothing has changed at TVG. "Free means Free". What a joke! Any ADW that charges you a fee to make a wager, or a fee to keep your account active if you haven't used it in a few months, is an ADW to avoid. Again, I look forward to December 26. Keep up the good work HRTV!

OTM Al
12-18-2009, 12:21 PM
Hmmmmmm....another complaint about TVG......must be December

Not only is it December, but it's December again!

I'm sorry whatever institution you live in puts you in a straight jacket and props your eyes open and forces you to watch TVG. Personally where I live, if I don't like what's on TV I use the off button and move on to something else.

Wickel
12-18-2009, 01:22 PM
Anyone looking forward to Jon White and Sean McCarthy must already have a case of the "holiday" blues.

Tom
12-18-2009, 01:33 PM
Overall, HRTV puts out a far better product this time of year.
Woo Hoo!