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Microsoft has launched their TV hosting service MSN video player in a bid to win market share of the online TV audience. The MSN site currently sits in 13th place of most popular sites and the new service and Paddy Power quotes 7/4 that the move will propel them into the top 10.

Breaking the inertia around popular sites is very hard though and MSN faces a tough battle against BBC’s iplayer. Paddy Power has MSN at 3/1 to overtake the BBC online by 2011 but 1/5 that they will find it too hard to beat the national broadcaster.

Roberto Coladangelo spokesman for Paddy Power said, “We admire people who challenge the market leader and wish Microsoft luck but the iplayer has been around for a while now and habits are hard to break.” (more…)

James Cameron’s sci-fi smash might have been sensationally snubbed by the Academy but it was a big winner for bookies Paddy Power.

The Irish bookmaker took twice the number of bets and double the amount of money on Avatar winning ‘Best Picture’ than it did on Kathryn Bigelow’s war-time drama, leaving them in the green to the tune of almost €10,000.

Punters were also convinced that Avatar would clock up more awards overall on the night. Over €3000 was wagered on Avatar winning the most awards compared to €650 put down on The Hurt Locker.

But the bookies didn’t get it all their own way, in other categories, all the major favourites picked up their piece of gold. Jeff Bridges won Best Actor at 1/20, Sandra Bullock won Best Actress at 1/3 while Kathryn Bigelow as predicted at odds of 1/10 with Paddy Power, picked up the Oscar for Best Director, becoming the first woman to win that award in the Academy’s history.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “This was a very successful Oscars for the bookies. After a phenomenal performance at the box office our punters were convinced Avatar had it in the bag for ‘Best Picture’. The Academy certainly works in mysterious ways.”

So, what are the odds of a woman winning Best Director next year? Paddy Power are already taking bets and are quoting 3/1 on a female director impressing the Academy again next year.

Best Director  – 2011 Oscars
1/5    Male
3/1    Female

Others on request

Kerry person of the year Dáithí O’Sé looks set to leave his fellow judges feeling under the weather this weekend when the All Ireland Talent Show final takes place.

The West, mentored by the TG4 weatherman is the red-hot favourite at 4/5 to produce this year’s winning act. Sexy Sean nós dancer Emma O’Sullivan accompanied by John O’Halloran on melodeon are 11/8 to walk away with the €50,000 prize, while Dáithí’s other act pretty blonde Olwyn Murray is 5/1 to sing her way to victory.

But it won’t be all plain sailing for Dáithi on the night. He faces stiff competition from The South under John Creedon. John also has two acts in the final – the very talented Ben Escorcio at 11/4 and Michael Lawlor at 6/1.

Bláthnaid’s Na Fianna are 6/1 to win for The East while Dana’s little belter Chloe Coyle is 8/1 to win for The North.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “It’s hard to look past The West when it comes to the All Ireland Talent Show. Dáithi has been sweeping the board all the way through the competition and with two great acts in the final he’ll be very hard to beat.” (more…)

Paddy Power has installed David Cameron as the early favourite to come out on top amongst his political rivals in the forthcoming TV debates.

With the three parties and three broadcasters finally coming to an agreement over the historic programmes, pollsters will be quick to vet the public for who they think is the winner and Paddy Power has installed Conservative leader David Cameron the 10/11 market leader to win most of the three debates. The PM Gordon Brown is the 5/4 second favourite with Nick Clegg the 6/1 outsider.

Cameron is also the 4/5 favourite to be declared the winner in the first televised debate, to be shown on ITV whilst the BBC are expected to top the TV viewing figures with their show hosted by David Dimbleby, the last in the series of three.

With strict rules preventing any kind of recourse from the vetted audience Paddy Power are also betting on which decree will be the first to be broken. Applauding is the 11/8 favourite closely followed by booing at 7/4 although it could be difficult to stifle an emotional heckle at 4/1. Streaking, which may or may not be in the official rules, is 50/1.

The Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, perhaps less used to such a high level of exposure, is the 11/10 favourite to be the first leader to noticeably perspire during the debate coverage.

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “The three political parties will be quick to declare whether the televised debates are important depending on whether or not their leader is deemed to be the winner. But love them or loathe them there will be huge interest in the programmes and the whole country will be discussing who they think are the victors so we’re offering the chance to back your fancied runner with a flutter.” (more…)

A historic nationwide betting sensation reached its conclusion tonight as 8/1 shot Stacey was exposed as the murderer of Eastenders’ Archie Mitchell.

The ‘who killed Archie’ storyline has generated unprecedented public interest with Paddy Power taking more than €120,000 in bets on the whodunit, making it the biggest novelty betting market since the bookie’s famous next Pope betting in 2005.

Paddy Power said: “I’ve never seen a TV bet like it. Who killed Archie has caught the imagination like never before – this was the 21st century’s who shot JR and the biggest betting plunge we’ve ever seen on a TV plotline.

“Fair play to those that had their money on Stacey – and the BBC. Stories like this usually leak out but punters didn’t appear to have a clue on this one with the betting spread across more than 30 characters in Albert Square.”

Paddy Power, who were betting on the murder mystery throughout the live episode, saw Stacey backed into 3/1 during the show as viewers’ suspicions grew. The bookie also dodged a bullet having promised to refund all bets on the market if Thursday night favourite Ben Mitchell was exposed as the murderer.

Gordon Brown’s interview last night on ITV with Piers Morgan has kick started his charm offensive ahead of the election. Early reactions from punters suggest some voters will have warmed to his human side and Paddy Power has the PM at 13/8 to improve his approval rating to 29-31%.

Brown’s last rating was 28%, according to a YouGov poll, but still needs significant improvement if he has any chance of retaining power later in the year.

To appeal to a variety of audiences Brown may continue to use other TV appearances to get his views and personality across in the coming months. Daytime TV looks set to be his next target and Paddy Power has Fern Britton Meets… as a 7/4 favourite to host the PM on the sofa followed closely by This Morning at 2/1 and Loose Women 4/1. The betting doesn’t include the Brown friendly GMTV sofa.

Roberto Coladangelo, Spokesman for Paddy Power said, “The Prime Minister looks keen to show his human side by bearing all on TV and early reaction to the interview seems favourable. He may now even showcase some hidden talents by inviting political rivals round for dinner on Come Dine With Me at 66/1 or ride the football bandwagon on Match of the Day at 250/1.” (more…)

Singer turned ‘stylist’ Michelle Heaton has emerged as the 9/4 red hot favourite to takeover from Virginia Macari as Podge & Rodge’s right hand woman.

The cheeky ginger puppets will begin their search for a sexy new Lady of Ballydung Manor following Macari’s decision to step down from the popular show.

Former Miss Ireland Amanda Brunker is the 8/1 second favourite on the bookies list after a brief stint guest presenting the show while fellow beauty queen Rosanna Davison also appears in the top five at 10/1.

If however the twin terrors are looking for another busty babe to take the reins then top model Georgia Salpa could be just the woman at 14/1. Irish comedienne Katherine Lynch also debuts on the bookies list at 18/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Michelle Heaton is no stranger to our screens having appeared on many a reality TV show. She’s the perfect choice in our book not only because she’d bring her own unique style to Ballydung Manor but because she proved from her slip up on TV3’s Apprentice that she can cope in embarrassing situations.” (more…)

Bookies Paddy Power today slashed the odds on failed politician George Lee taking over from Charlie Bird as RTE’s Washington Correspondent from 5/1 to 9/4 after punters plunged on the former FG man for the plum job.

Station bosses are thought to be desperately seeking an appropriate role for their former Economics Editor but their choices are limited at present. Charlie Bird’s return however has left a suitable opening for Lee but it’s thought he’ll have to apply for the position like everyone else.

Punters however clearly think the Dublin South man will have an edge over any colleagues who throw their hat in the ring and it’s just a matter of time before the announcement is made.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “George Lee is well got in RTE and would make a suitable replacement for Charlie Bird. A move to the US would see him start with a clean slate and he could have better luck in the corridors of Washington than the corridors of the Dáil!”

Paddy Power have also opened betting on Charlie Bird’s chances of entering into the political arena following George Lee’s quip that he could come back from the US and stand for Fine Gael. It’s 50/1 Bird stands for FG and 100/1 he becomes the next President! (more…)

Bookie Paddy Power is betting on whether the Sausage Roll Facebook sensation will beat the ‘nation’s sweetheart’ Cheryl Cole.

Facebook jokers have set up a campaign to see if they can get a lowly sausage roll more fans signed up than the Girls Aloud star currently has on her official page. And the internet phenomenon has exploded into life with more than half a million Facebook users signing up in the first week of the campaign.

Having attracted over 570,000 fans since the Sausage Roll group started on January 30th Paddy Power are fully expecting the sausage roll to win at odds of just 1/4 so the bookie is also offering betting on when The Roll gets more fans than The Cole.

Its 11/4 that the group passes Cherl Cole’s Facebook numbers of just over 1,502,000 and just 15/8 it passes it’s target between 15th and 17th February. But should the sausage roll run out of momentum it’s 5/2 not to get more fans than the X Factor judge’s offical Facebook page.

The organisers of Roll v Cole have also drafted in John Morter, the man behind the Rage Against The Machine Xmas Number One campaign to get the Meat Pie Sausage Roll song by Grandad Roberts to top the charts. Paddy Power are betting 3/1 the song gets to number one.

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “We’re fully backing the Roll to beat The Cole and the betting suggests its surely a matter of not if but when the pastry passes Cheryl’s numbers.” (more…)