The Irish pay-TV broadcaster Setanta is trying to renegotiate its contracts to screen sporting events, as it tries to deal with cash-flow problems.

 

It is due to pay the Football Association ?35m on 15 May for the rights to broadcast its games.

 

....analysts have suggested that Setanta will be hit hard by the recession because cash-strapped sports fans may give up their subscriptions.

 

However the fees the broadcaster must pay for the rights to show sporting events will be unaffected.

 

"In the recession you keep your Sky because that's the number one, but if you're the number two, which is nice to have in addition... then that means you're not going to get the same number of subscribers," said Toby Syfret, media analyst at Enders Analysis.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8032371.stm

I've cancelled a few times and am now on ?3.99 a month.

The Irish pay-TV broadcaster Setanta is trying to renegotiate its contracts to screen sporting events, as it tries to deal with cash-flow problems

 

I heard that if you have full Sky package you will get Setanta free next season

 

after they struck a deal with Sky

The Irish pay-TV broadcaster Setanta is trying to renegotiate its contracts to screen sporting events, as it tries to deal with cash-flow problems

 

I heard that if you have full Sky package you will get Setanta free next season

 

after they struck a deal with Sky

 

That'll save me ?3.99!

That'll save me ?3.99!

 

Your taking the piss arent you?

Your taking the piss arent you?

 

Actually, I wasn't.

Actually, I wasn't.

Well i never

We have Setanta at here at home and to be honest i dont really like it.

Its abit of a shoddy channel, looks basic and abit sh*t, but im just being picky.

Dont think its fair they get to show England games though, should be on terrestrial every time.

M G - I hope you are right about that as it will save me around GBP18.00 a month (two boxes means 2 subscriptions).

 

To be honest Setanta should get rid of some of their useless channels such as Liverpool TV, Arsenal TV, Celtic TV, and Rangers TV.

 

Whats the betting, though, that next time around for the TV deals the strongest competition to sky will be ESPN - they seem to be correctly growing their portfolio of TV Channels- recently taking over NASN to become ESPN America, and already have ESPN Classic. Is it possible we will see ESPN Soccer Channel in the near future? or will we see ESPN actually buying Setanta (once all re-negotiations have taken place) then they will have bought sport on the cheap in Europe!

The big hit for the top clubs this close season will be a dramatic drop in corporate entertaining.

.

Edited May 5, 200917 yr by boothybwfc

We have Setanta at here at home and to be honest i dont really like it.

Its abit of a shoddy channel, looks basic and abit sh*t, but im just being picky.

Dont think its fair they get to show England games though, should be on terrestrial every time.

I have Setanta as well, but only because it is free with Virgin Media, it really is a load of old tosh though. Setanta News is really bad, far inferior to SkySports News. I wouldn't be suprised if Setanta are in deep trouble, as nobody in their rihgt mind should be paying a subscription fee for it.

I have Setanta as well, but only because it is free with Virgin Media, it really is a load of old tosh though. Setanta News is really bad, far inferior to SkySports News. I wouldn't be suprised if Setanta are in deep trouble, as nobody in their rihgt mind should be paying a subscription fee for it.

As I said, I really wouldn't be surprised if ESPN takes them over. Have you seen their presentation? - far too yankee for my liking.

 

If I remember correctly Setanta Sports News is approx 70% funded by Virgin media and is produced by ITN/ITV News - no wonder its rubbish!

Setanta's problem is Des Lynam only winning one of the five Premiership TV broadcast rights packages for the next three seasons.

 

I can't see why that would make them attractive to an ESPN takover, as they would be in the same boat

Setanta's problem is Des Lynam only winning one of the five Premiership TV broadcast rights packages for the next three seasons.

 

I can't see why that would make them attractive to an ESPN takover, as they would be in the same boat

It would give a foothold to ESPN for the next contract rights when the come up again - also with the other sports that Setanta shows - whether it be European football (such as eredivisie), American Football, Australian Rules etc it is quite a good bargain for ESPN.

 

Unlike Sky Sports, Setanta is shown across Europe, therefore pan-European rights, plus they hold the exclusive PL Broadcast for Eire on Saturday afternoons, and also has Television rights for its channels in Australia, Canada and America. In other words it would make ESPN a bigger broadcaster than what it is now (and that is first in the world already, followed by Fox/Sky Sports) and make it a more opf a major player here in Europe than it is already.

Isn't ESPN's nich American sports? Can only see Setanta being incorporated into Virgin Media, imo.

Isn't ESPN's nich American sports? Can only see Setanta being incorporated into Virgin Media, imo.

Virgin media have ALL their channels up for sale at the moment (including the 50% stake in UKTV), which includes Living, Challenge, Bravo and a few others.

 

ESPN - Entertainment Sports Programming Network - has fingers in all sports in the US. including European Football. They have about 6 ESPN branded sports channels in the US alone. Their majority shareholder no less than the Walt Disney Company.

 

Outside America, they have various channels that are dedicated to the regions they are based in as well as some more well known branded, but locally run, ESPN channels such as Classics. Currently in the UK and Eire they have ESPN Classics and ESPN America. In Netherlands they hald own Sport1(just recently bought a stake) network as well as ESPN Classics and ESPN America.

How much do you think ESPN would pay for UEFA Cup coverage?

setanta is shite in every sense of the word.

 

fuck um.

How much do you think ESPN would pay for UEFA Cup coverage?

If I were you I would ask them straight off.

 

Although I do know that the do actually show Champions League, as well as Fox Sports, in the US. My favourite English Bar in Orlando tends to show as many matches as possible - including Bolton!!!

How much do you think ESPN would pay for UEFA Cup coverage?

not as much as channel 5

not as much as channel 5

or it could be more - we just don't know, right?

 

:p

not as much as channel 5

Think id rather watch channel 5 than setanta.

or it could be more - we just don't know, right?

 

:p

 

No Dave, we don't.

Setanta are fantastic for boxing, fantastic.