ARE Arena Events Group Plc

RNS Number:2587U
Arena Leisure PLC
16 November 2000

Arena Leisure plc ("Arena")


Arena, in connection with its involvement in Go Racing consortium which is
bidding for UK horseracing's media rights, wishes to bring investors'
attention to the following press statement released today by Go Racing and NTL
Incorporated.


"UK's LEADING CABLE OPERATOR GOES EXCLUSIVE WITH GO RACING BID


Britain's leading broadband cable communications company, NTL Incorporated
(NYSE: NLI; Easdaq: NTLI), has associated itself exclusively with the Go
Racing consortium in its bid to secure media and related rights to British
racecourses.


NTL, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Premium TV, has negotiated an option
to join Channel 4, BSkyB and Arena Leisure as an equity partner in Go Racing
if its bid for racing rights is successful.


If the option is exercised, the planned Go Racing channel will be carried on
NTL's fibre-optic cable networks, allowing armchair racing fans to place bets
and receive up-to-the-minute form guides using the company's interactive TV
service.


All bidders for racing rights and the racecourses themselves are agreed that
revenues from interactive TV betting are vital to the sport's future. With
BSkyB already offering interactive TV services to over 4 million digital
homes, the addition of NTL to the consortium would mean that Go Racing's
interactive TV services will reach even more homes.


Go Racing has also agreed terms for the BBC to continue to broadcast the races
it currently covers if Go Racing's bid is successful. With Channel 4 refusing
to offer assurances of continued terrestrial coverage outside the consortium,
Go Racing is the only bidder for racing rights able to guarantee the same
level of terrestrial exposure for the sport in future years.


David Scott, for Go Racing, said: "NTL's involvement would mean that Go Racing
would have in place all the essential UK elements required to maximise
revenues and the profile of British racing."


Geoffrey Hamilton-Fairley, Chief Executive of Premium TV, added: "We have
analysed the racing sector carefully and believe that Go Racing is the best
option for the racing business and racing fans alike. In particular, we are
keen to unlock the potential of horse racing within the interactive TV
environment. Go Racing will ensure that horse racing prospers in the digital
era."



Editors note


 1. Go Racing is promising 4,000 hours of live racing coverage each year, more
    than any other sport receives in the UK. Channel 4 is also planning to
    launch a new daily lunchtime race programme in support of its existing
    coverage.

 2. Go Racing's offer for racing rights includes plans for a dedicated Go
    Racing channel, available to around 5 million UK pay-TV homes from day
    one; an interactive TV service - including on screen betting - via Sky
    Digital and NTL Digitalplus; a comprehensive website, allowing
    international betting on UK racing.

 3. Go Racing is the only bidder for racing rights able to offer an instant
    solution to the sport that will allow exploitation of rights across all
    platforms - terrestrial TV, multi-channel TV and the internet - from the
    start of a new deal.



More on NTL


  * NTL uses state-of-the-art technology to deliver telephone, TV, Internet
    and interactive services to UK homes and businesses.

  * 22 million homes watch ITV, C4 and C5 thanks to NTL's broadcast
    transmission network and 12 million homes are within its fibre-optic
    broadband network.

  * NTL helped pioneer digital TV and is involved in digital terrestrial,
    cable and satellite. It launched the UK's first interactive service in
    March 1999.

  * NTL's national telecoms network carries such names as Virgin, Orange and
    AT&T.

  * NTL is increasingly a significant broadband player in Europe with
    businesses in Ireland, France, Germany and Switzerland, as well as
    south-east Asia and Australia.

  * In May 2000, NTL completed its acquisition of the consumer and direct
    business operations of Cable & Wireless Communications."


Enquiries:


David Bick

Holborn Public Relations

Tel: 020 7929 5599

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