Sportsman speculation roundup

Posted by Martin Stabe on 2 March 2006 at 11:56
Tags: Journalism, Mobile Phones, Online, Sportsman, Trinity Mirror

The hotly-anticipated official announcement of the launch date for the Sportsman is expected soon — “perhaps as early as today” — the Guardian says in its sports section.

The new national sports betting daily, headed by former Telegraph diarist Charlie Methven, will be a 80- to 128-page tabloid. The Guardian report includes some more detail about the Sportsman’s web operation which, as we reported last week, will be spearheaded by former News International digital director Mark Maydon:

In a model that other media owners might hope to replicate all journalists will work on both the newspaper and the added-value website, which launches in May. [Manging director Max] Aitken says: “We will not just be dumping the paper online. The reader will bounce between the two, while emails and text updates can provide information on changed overnight conditions or news from the paddock. We are a media company, with great betting content.” There will also be links to an on-line betting site.

According to Roy Greenslade in the Telegraph, the Sportsman may be receive a percentage from bets placed via its web site and also has some interesting ideas for delivering news to mobile phones:

Methven … says: “Look, we have journalists at race meetings who report on the condition of horses in the paddock. It’s a good service. But think what we could do by offering punters reports in real time, giving them information at the same moment as they are witnessing it themselves.”

Meanwhile, the Times City Diary yesterday reported that the Methven has already sought legal advice about an alleged advertising deal offered to a major bookmaker by the Sportsman’s established rival, Trinity Mirror’s Racing Post.

Update: The Sportsman will launch on 22 March.