Setanta about to fold?

[AndyS]

...."Setanta, the Irish satellite station, was attempting to secure an emergency cash injection to prevent it defaulting on payments it owes to the SPL, the English Premier League, the English Football Association and other sporting organisations.

The broadcaster, which has 1.2 million subscribers but needs an estimated 1.9 million to break even, has already stopped accepting any new customers and many analysts believe it will only be a matter of days before it goes out of business."...
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/foo...664776847.html

Wonder what it means for Premier Rugby...?

[Happy]

it means sky will probably pick it up... for the UK any way.. as for us.. who knows, could be a passed on pay per view channel here in aust - i doubt much will change.. would be very surprised if it isn't available here even if they do go bust.

[AndyS]

Troubled pay-TV sports broadcaster Setanta was murdered by its main rival BSkyB, according to a report in the influential Financial Times business newspaper. However, the report also squarely cites Setanta’s owners and management as having to shoulder much of the blame for its current difficulties, having flown too high and bid too strongly for some TV broadcast rights....

It is widely reported that Setanta had tried to offload an equity stake in its business, including offering shares to British Telecom and Disney-owned ESPN.

In the event of a total collapse at Setanta it is assumed that the administrator/receiver would hand back the TV rights, or – depending on the contractual terms in place – offer them for sale to third-party broadcasters. Players such as Virgin Media already carry Setanta output. Setanta has stopped selling subscriptions, an action taken as a precursor to some sort of receivership. However, Europe’s pay-TV rules prevent a single broadcaster controlling all the transmission rights of key events, such as the Premiership.

[Thequeerone]

Hopefully they get this sorted in the off season of Magners etc..

[welshrugbyfan]

As long as there is NH rugby on the tele when the season starts WRF will be happy....

[jargan83]

As long as there is NH rugby on the tele when the season starts WRF will be happy....

I vaguely recall 6N being telelcast on Fox sports some time ago but apart from that it probably doesn;t look good. You will get whatever ESPN shows as they show some Heineiken Cup but thats about it unless Foxsports picks up the rights

(p.s why would that bloke wish he was Welsh when Ireland pick up the Grand Slam? )

[slomo]

alot of people cancel their setanta in the off season, not good...

[James]

I vaguely recall 6N being telelcast on Fox sports some time ago but apart from that it probably doesn;t look good. You will get whatever ESPN shows as they show some Heineiken Cup but thats about it unless Foxsports picks up the rights

(p.s why would that bloke wish he was Welsh when Ireland pick up the Grand Slam? )

If there isn't going to be any coverage from Fox etc maybe One will pick up the rights on the cheap. Better to sell it to Oz for a little rather than not sell it and get nothing.

[jargan83]

If there isn't going to be any coverage from Fox etc maybe One will pick up the rights on the cheap. Better to sell it to Oz for a little rather than not sell it and get nothing.

True, but according to some sources, One HD's budget at the moment isn't that flash. "Sell it to Oz" would be a great thought for the people up north, but it would depend on demand for product, but like you said a good chance to pick it up cheap, would also give me a good reason to go and grab a set top box

[shasta]

would also give me a good reason to go and grab a set top box

Get one with a hard drive. If you haven't got one already.

One HD would be great.

[jargan83]

Get one with a hard drive. If you haven't got one already.

One HD would be great.

nah, can record it to my PS3

[shasta]

nah, can record it to my PS3

Yeah I knew that.

What's a PS3, again?

Just kidding.

[blueandblack]

get one with HD!

[domattw]

Go ONE HD lets take rugby to the masses so everyone can enjoy it. I hope that the new TV deal will include ONE HD so at least they might be able to replay S14 games after 48 hours. Be good to see some rugby on ONE HD thought

[James]

I went away on holiday and when I came back by brother had bought a 42 inch flat screen with all the digi/HD channels. It kicks ass.