The following BHB Proposed Press Policy was considered by the NPA today:
鈥淏HB will extend the current licensing arrangements in respect of the use of racecards by newspapers until March 2007, providing that:
1. sponsors鈥� names are incorporated within the racecard; and
2. subject to appropriate editorial discretion, the volume of coverage given to racecards does not materially alter from current custom and practice.
In the event that sponsors鈥� names are not included within a racecard, BHB reserves its right to terminate, subject to an agreed notice period, the current licensing arrangements. This right of termination does not apply to the exclusion of sponsors鈥� names within racecards on an exceptional and non recurring basis, such basis to be agreed between the newspaper and BHB.
BHB acknowledges that the 鈥渟ponsor鈥檚 name鈥� may be edited to include only the sponsor name such that any other wording included in the sponsorship of a particular race is subject to editorial discretion.鈥�
BHB rejects any suggestion that this proposal represents interference with editorial discretion: the proposal explicitly recognises that editorial discretion would apply.
In return for a long-term obligation to supply racecards on the current terms, we believe that it was entirely reasonable to ask for confirmation that sponsors鈥� names will be carried, which is, we understand, newspapers鈥� intention.
We will now speak to individual newspaper groups to reach an agreement which can be put to the BHB Board for approval.
