Alphameric a winner in the racing TV stakes

An end in sight to the television turf wars in the horseracing industry should see shareholders in Alphameric reaping dividends.

Alphameric is the betting-industry technology company that went into battle against the top bookmakers over their SIS monopoly racing coverage showing pictures in the nation's betting shops.

With tortuous legal actions now ending, Alphameric claims its rival TurfTV operations, in league with half the country's courses including Ascot, Newmarket, Cheltenham and Aintree, have been installed in 95% of all British bookmakers.

Chairman Peter Bertram today reported a turnaround in the six months to the end of May with Alphameric booking profits of £4 million against half-year losses in 2008 of £3 million.

"I believe that, given an acceptable economic environment, the group is well-positioned to deliver a robust level of financial performance, to generate worthwhile returns for its shareholders and to sustain a progressive dividend policy," he said.

The last major bookmaker to hold out against TurfTV, mainly northern chain BetFred, signed up in April.