Setanta Sports
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| Setanta Sports
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">Image:Sslogo05.gif</th></tr> <tr><th>Launched</th><td>1990</td></tr><tr><th>Owned by</th><td>Image:Flag of Ireland (bordered).svg Setanta Sports Group</td></tr><tr><th>Website</th><td>www.setanta.com</td></tr> |
Setanta Sports is a leading Irish international sports broadcaster, operating 12 channels in 24 countries. The availability of these channels varies depending on the delivery platform and location. Setanta Sports broadcasts sporting events to Irish, British, Australian, Canadian and American audiences.
Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events to Irish who were based abroad but more recently Setanta Sports has expanded majorly and now broadcasts an extensive array of top live sporting events. Setanta Ireland's CEO is Niall Cogley, former Director of Sport at RTE. The company's headquarters is 4th Floor, Georges Key House, 43 Townsend Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Joint Group CEOs Michael O'Rourke and Leonard Ryan, COO Mark O'Meara and CFO Nigel Brennan are all based in that area.
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[edit] Setanta Sports in Ireland
In Ireland, Setanta Sports' Channels are available on a number of different platforms. Its flagship Channel Setanta Sports is available for free on NTL's basic cable package and as a subscription service on Sky Digital and Chorus. With Sky Digital subscribers receive the full array of Setanta Sports channels — Setanta Sports, Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Sports 2, Celtic TV, Rangers TV, NASN, Racing UK and Racing World. NTL Digital Subscribers can also opt to pay to receive these subscription channels in addition to what they already receive freely.
Setanta also offers a commercial service for all business premises in Ireland.
[edit] Setanta Sports in the UK
In the United Kingdom, the entire range of Setanta Sports' Channels are available as subscription channels on Sky Digital. Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Sports 2, Celtic TV and Rangers TV are available on Telewest while NTL offers Setanta Sports 1, Celtic TV and Rangers TV.
Setanta also offers a special Scottish Premier League service on Freeview, using the patented Xtraview Encryption System. This service is only available when Scottish Premier League matches are being broadcast, and not all Scottish Premier League games featured on Setanta Sports 1 and Setanta Sports 2 are available.
In 2007, the service will be expanded an will include the Setanta Golf channel (PGA), as well as 46 live FA Premiership games to be broadcast on their main station.
[edit] Outside Ireland and UK
Setanta Sports offers commercial venues in several countries around the world programming on a pay-per-view basis of sports such as football, golf, cricket, and rugby league.
[edit] Setanta Sports in North America
Setanta Sports North America, currently available only in the United States,<ref>Setanta Sports North America FAQs, retrieved 13 July 2006.</ref> is split into four parts:
- Setanta Sports Channel for domestic satellite customers
- Setanta Premium pay-per-view for commercial venues
- Setanta Broadband, offering live and delayed streaming video to broadband computer users
- Setanta Mobile offering real time live match scores
Setanta Sports is currently available on DIRECTV (Channel 615 with an overflow channel of 670); GlobeCast WorldTV and ITVN.com.
Top football soccer features include LIVE English Premiership League, UEFA Champions League, Euro 2008 Qualifiers, Coca-Cola Championship, Dutch & French League, Scottish Premier League, Scottish FA Cup, German FA Cup, Asian Cup Qualifiers, Asian Champions League and MUTV and ChelseaTV.
Sentanta also carries all the world class rugby including 2007 IRB Rugby World Cup, Six Nations, Tri Nations, Super 14, British & Irish Lions Tour, Currie Cup, Heineken Cup, Guinness Premiership, Magners League, Powergen Cup and Super League.
An interview with Shane O'Rourke, the president of North American operations for Setanta, where he discusses Setanta's offering of Premiership matches in the US, is available for download from the EPL Talk Podcast at http://epltalk.libsyn.com
[edit] Setanta Sports in Australia
There are two Channels in Australia:
- Setanta Sports Pay-Per-View
- Setanta Sports Pub Channel
Setanta Sports Australia shows premium live sporting events, with action coming from the GAA football and hurling championships, the Scottish Premier League, the English League One and Two, and soccer international qualifiers. Setanta has large rugby union coverage (Guinness Premiership, Powergen Cup, Celtic League and the Six Nations Championship).
Setanta Sports now has a domestic pay television sports channel available for $29.95 per month if you have the right satellite dish. Setanta is hoping in the near future that it can be included on the Foxtel and Austar service.
