Setanta: Days Numbered?

[TVC_Admin]

Original story: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/investing-and-markets/article.html?in_article_id=484578



The beleaguered sports broadcaster Setanta is understood to be talking to rival pay-TV firm BSkyB (http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/bsy) about a deal that would see it offered as a part of a package of channels to Sky's subscribers.
http://img.thisismoney.co.uk/i/std/pixel.gif (http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/investing-and-markets/article.html?in_article_id=484578#endpromo)
http://img.thisismoney.co.uk/i/pix/2009/03/barclays_203x150.jpg Jewel in the crown: Setanta lost out to Sky in the auction for live Premier League rights





Setanta lost out to Sky in the auction for live Premier League football rights earlier this year and its future has been in doubt ever since. The Irish company won the rights to just half its present number of matches from next year and is not likely to retain its 1.5 million premium subscribers to its sports channel.

It paid £159m in February for the rights to 23 games for three years from 2010.
It has since been in discussion with other sports bodies for which it holds TV rights, including the Scottish Premier League and the Football Association, about renegotiating the financial terms of its existing deals.
It is likely to pay the SPL £20m less over four years from 2010 compared with the original arrangement of £125m. It is also looking for extra investment.
Setanta has about 3.5 million subscribers in total with the remainder coming from deals with Virgin Media, BT (http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/bt.a) and Tiscali where Setanta is offered as part of a package of channels. A similar deal with BSkyB would allow Setanta to access more subscribers, but at a greatly reduced rate per head compared with those who pay it direct. BSkyB and Setanta declined to comment. Setanta is scheduled to make a payment of about £35m to the Premier League on Friday as part of a £392m deal.

[liamferrari]

i think it great let all the games go to sky it cheaper for ever one that way
and Daniel play Eurovision game

[jamie543]

how can you say its great if sky get all the games? if there is no competition sky will up the prices. The worst thing about the EPL is that not every games is shown on TV but Europe and Asia can watch them which i think is a liberty to the the true fans of this sport in this country

[TVC_Admin]

From what I have seen of Sky's curious commercial practices, I rather doubt that they are willing to do anything that could possibly reduce any costs to the viewer.

[RochdaleRed]

For me business uis business and money speaks loudest so it's unlucky for Satanta but Sky is a big animal.

Cheers

RR

[TVC_H4U]

Sky has a conflict of interest, if they support satanta that would be great more availability for its customers there more people switching from Virgin to Sky.
Although ..
If they are able to assist in Killing Satanta then they can bid the same and have a high possibility to get the programming on their Sky Sports channels.

Id say no idea how it will turn out, but Satanta is a brand name in its own right now. Sky including it in its package will work well for marketing. If I was BskyB id add it to the lineup.

[W0NK042]

(& don't forget) Not everybody has Sky, which means you'll have to go down the pub to watch it.... Oh, wait, hang on a minute!

- Never mind. :beer:

[stuart08]

Setanta's days are ended...Well for the UK, at least:(

It's a shame for the workers.....

Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCs7ZWXSKdA)

[TVC_H4U]

It has been announced today by the Board of Setanta Sport Holdings Limited that it has not proved possible to secure the additional financing required to ensure the future viability of certain Setanta businesses in Great Britain. As a consequence, the Board has taken the decision to seek the appointment of Receivers to the parent company, Setanta Sport Holdings Limited, and certain subsidiaries in Ireland, and Administrators to certain English subsidiaries.

Setanta International is not covered by these appointments.
Setanta’s services in the US will continue to trade normally.

Also, it has been widely reported in various media channels, Setanta Sports has had its agreement to broadcast 46 Barclays Premier League matches in the UK terminated.

This development does not affect our channels and other services in the US.

Setanta Sports in the US is a separate operation that has separate agreement to show the Barclay’s Premier League. Our channels and other services in the US continue to broadcast and our subscribers can still enjoy our programming including the Lions Tour of South Africa and the UEFA U21 European Championship.

New customers are welcome to subscribe to watch some of the world’s best soccer and rugby either by contacting our cable and satellite partners or online at www.setanta.com.

We thank you for your continued interest in Setanta Sports and look forward to bringing you a wealth of sport over the coming months and years.
Its a shame, but nevermind someone else will show the games instead..

[TVC_Admin]

It all seems to be going horribly wrong for Setanta.

Whilst people may argue that it is a simple issue of the fittest who survive, I can remember that the same argument being made in favour of supermarkets, and it doesn't help when consumers are left with no choice

We are in contact with Setanta and hope that they pull through this

[TVC_Colwal]

Its a shame, but never mind someone else will show the games instead..
Funny you mention that Adam :)
ESPN poach all of Setanta's Premier League TV packages

ESPN have secured a clean sweep of beleaguered Setanta's Barclays Premier League TV packages for the next four seasons.

LINK (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1194754/EXCLUSIVE-Premier-League-football-shown-live-ESPN-season-Setantas-demise.html)