Canadian Rugby Forums » General Discussion

Setanta`s demise?

(11 posts)

  1. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  2. scarface
    Member

    Have been following reports from the UK that Sentanta is in serious financial trouble and could go under any day.

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article6451894.ece

    Has anyone heard how this would impact Setanta in Canada? I am assuming that if/when the parent company goes so will our only link to regular rugby coverage.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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    Posted 2 years ago

  4. Jimmy Skum
    Member

    It`s not looking good.

    http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.2513419.0.Expert_Barnett_warns_of_consequences_of_demise_of_Setanta.php

    Here`s a link to today`s Glasgow Herald which seems to indicate that Setanta will be shut down immediately. The Herald article is mainly about football but it does mention Setanta USA in it so I assume that will include Canada.

    That will be us back in the dark ages again with no rugby on TV. Who knows, might not even get the three games today that I am recording, Lions, Canada and USA games.

    If anyone knows anything else let us know. The Setanta website is still up at this point.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  5. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  6. Bandito
    Member

    From their UK homepage ...

    "As has been widely reported in various media channels, the management of Setanta Sports management is in the process of attempting to secure the future of the business.

    The company has not gone into administration.

    All our channels are still broadcasting across all platforms and our subscribers can continue to enjoy our programming.

    However, in the current circumstances, we have decided to suspend temporarily the acceptance of new subscriptions.

    Our customer services operations are still open and available to handle customers queries, but there are a series of frequently-asked questions and answers to them available below.

    We thank you for your continued interest in Setanta Sports."

    - - - - - -

    Beeb Sports running an article on it. Suggestion that ESPN wants to buy them, or at least their EPL rights. If they were bought by ESPN, maybe they could negotiate an entrance into Canada with the CRTC? (not that I know much about that field)

    (I`m more thankful for my torrent connections now!)

    Posted 2 years ago #

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    Posted 2 years ago

  8. Toothlesstiger
    Moderator

    We will miss Setanta despite all the agro they gave in coming on line for the last RWC. I have enjoyed lots of great rugby courtesy of the now doomed agreement between Setanta and the UK soccer premiership package.

    ESPN becoming involved could provide us with "some" continuing coverage of international rugby but no where within in the scope of what Setanta has provided.

    ESPN will go for the soccer and the odd USA rugby international. The likes of the HC, GP, Magners, Lions tours and 6 Nations will go by the wayside.

    Very sad as the reliability of the rugby programming there were a lot more subscribers making the commitment and following rugby even though through their PRV box.

    The game was just becoming recognised by non traditional rugby families who while checking into the soccer programing were taking in the increasing rugby game.

    I will miss Setanta if and when it packs up.

    BBC World & BBC Canada would be an ideal potential vehicle perhaps through something akin to BBC World Sports series of time slots within their existing programing.

    They have a very big hunk of existing properties including Premiership soccer and much of the major rugby and with Setanta`s demise there would be an open market, particularly in the USA..

    Posted 2 years ago #

  9. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  10. Harry Craig
    Member

    Let`s hope someone steps up and replaces Setanta if they do disappear.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  11. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  12. Bandito
    Member

    Remember when our own domestic broadcasters used to cover rugby? :( ... again, I don`t know how this stuff works, but didn`t Setanta have a monopoly on NA which priced Sportsnet, etc. out of the running even if they did want to pick up matches.

    I couldn`t see them spoiling their precious MMA and poker coverage for another bloody ball sport, though.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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    Posted 2 years ago

  14. Toothlesstiger
    Moderator

    The previous programing of home games would cost R.C. $70,000.00 and that was in order to fulfill incoming teams requirements to make a feed available for their home fans.

    I am not at all familiar with the Setanta package, it would seem the cost was to be offset by the subscribers pay to watch basis. Now the difficulty is that Setanta have not signed up sufficient subscribers to cover the cost of the English Premier deal.

    We have to remember that Sportsnet, CTV & CBC {whom have gone all soccer this weekend and beyond - our money that is] and they all have to justify the costs versus the ratings and advertising revenues, even my own beloved CBC, nothing to do with hard cash subscriptions, which in comparison to soccer are pretty appalling either way of measurement here in N.A.

    Your guy from the Score could enlighten us all more on such matters but he will have more important things on his mind with the Ontario "BLUES" this Summer.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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    Posted 2 years ago

  16. Toothlesstiger
    Moderator

    Hot off the BBC

    US investor Len Blavatnik is offering £20m in return for a 51% stake in the troubled Irish pay-tv channel Setanta, the BBC has learned.

    Mr Blavatnik is also involved with Top-up TV, the pay-tv channel on Freeview.

    BBC business editor Robert Peston said Mr Blavatnik`s intervention could buy Setanta some extra time to stave off "the great day of reckoning".

    Setanta has been hit by not having enough subscribers and only winning one of the English Premier League packages.

    The firm declined to comment.

    SETANTA`S SPORTS

    Premier League
    Scottish Premier League
    Blue Square Premier
    IPL cricket
    US PGA Tour golf
    Boxing

    Q&A: Setanta and you
    Why Setanta Sports is in trouble
    Your comments
    Setanta won two of the packages of live games in the previous auction, which covers games until the end of next season.

    On Wednesday, Setanta confirmed it had stopped taking on new customers as it battles to secure its future.

    Mounting debts

    Mr Blavatnik, who works with the former boss of BSkyB David Chance, has not been immune from the fall-out of the credit crisis.

    A huge petrochemicals maker he backed, LyondellBasell, has collapsed, meaning big losses for its creditors, which include Royal Bank of Scotland.

    Setanta`s talks with fellow broadcaster BSkyB failed while Walt Disney-owned sports network ESPN denied speculation earlier on Thursday it would buy the beleaguered broadcaster.

    Setanta, which shows cricket, golf and rugby union as well as football, has about 1.2 million subscribers.

    But this is only about 60% of the number it needs, according to analysts, and the company is losing up to £100m a year.

    Setanta needs to pay £30m that is due to the English Premier League and has already failed to pay the Scottish Premier League £3m it owes in television rights money.

    Under the current UK broadcast deal for the English Premier League, which lasts for one more season, BSkyB holds four packages of rights to show live matches - a total of 92 games - while Setanta has the other two packages, which cover 46 games.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  17. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 years ago

  18. Bandito
    Member

    Setanta UK into administration, still going with Ireland and International, though. Here`s the message from the Canadian site:

    "As 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 Canada.

    Setanta Sports Canada is a separate operation that has separate agreement to show the Barclay’s Premier League. Our channel and other services in Canada continue to broadcast and our subscribers can still enjoy our programming including the Lions Tour of South Africa and the Churchill Cup.

    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 http://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."

    Posted 2 years ago #

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    Posted 2 years ago

  20. Harry Craig
    Member

    I guess that is good news, for now at least.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  21. bdotrugby
    Member

    I heard on the radio that HBO is starting a new 24 hour sports channel. Seeing as there is HBO Canada maybe they will have something to offer. Also, Spike TV showed the Rugby League playoffs and Grand Final so hopefully they are getting into the Rugby. I also read that Donald Trump enjoyed Rugby when in Australia....we need guys with deep pockets to realize the upsides of this great game. I suspect the NFL bullies ESPN and other networks when it comes to Rugby. Our only hope will be renegades like Spike, HBO or upstarts.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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