The end for Setanta Sports

Well today on the BBC News Website the sign is clear that Setanta are on the brink of administration.

The BBC News website says:
"Setanta faces administration "within days" unless backers provide more funds to pay £30m it owes to the English Premier League, reports have suggested."


Read the full story at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8090633.stm


So what do you think, is it time to say goodbye to Setanta or will it pull through?

Unless they get another 1.2 million customers Setanta wont be on our screens next year. They overspent massively on the amount of coverage they could afford

some context that was not worth it!

I do wonder also how STV will coupe as there have the other studio in STV offices!

Where have we heard this before? Oh, I remember. The failure that was the ITV Sports Channel, which almost dragged a whole host of Football League clubs with it.

Personally I don't really think it'd be too much of a shame to see Setanta go.

It would be a shame, it was a very successful and long-established company before it decided to expand into England.

It does put Sky back in the driving seat until the next competitor comes along, and as the Premier League rights can't all go to the same company then there's bound to be someone else giving it a try at some point (possibly ESPN)

Sky will presumably be able to pick up any rights that Setanta give up very cheaply

I find it somewhat amusing that both products... ITV and Setanta... have both had dealings with Des Lynam in their programming. Need I say more... should have never left the Beeb!

All this means really is more people will have to pay out for Sky Sports, cause their Top Up TV boxes aren't gonna have much purpose other than freeview now.

Most likely, but under current EU rules Sky cannot hold 100% of the rights, they can have one extra package (like they are doing from the 2010-11 season onwards), but they can't have the last one. I'll be sorry to see Setanta go, as it's a good way of seeing decent Premier League matches for next to nothing on Virgin. And their coverage of Football is rather excellent they do give other broadcasters a run for their money.

You can't really compare it to ITV Sport Channel, difference there was that they way over bidded for Football League. Setanta just didn't get the Premier League games they wanted for the 2010-11 season onwards, just having one package isn't enough to sell, even though they do have the FA Cup and England games.

If Setanta do go bust I can see ESPN appearing on the scene, I doubt that any of the terrestrials would be able to afford any Live league games under the current economic climate.

Not forgetting they also owe The Scottish Premier League £3 Million from this season. Setanta have only thereselves to blame ever since they started doing this " Introduction Fee " and gradually increasing there subscription has put people off.

Wouldn't surprise me if BBC ONE Scotland/Five are in waiting to bid for the rights to show SPL Games next season if Setanta do go into administration.

plus rangers and Celtic tv!

I'm sure most have seen this coming for a while now, the massive amount of money they spent on acquiring half the Premier League games they previously held rights for was the final nail in the coffin in my opinion.

A lack of competition can only be good news for Sky who would no doubt jack up the Sky Sports subscription price further and/or reinstate Prem Plus asap.

I wouldn't be surprised if ESPN came to the rescue.

Wasn't that ESPN's plan for NASN? I remember reading somewhere that ESPN fancied a slice of the Premier League.

It wouldn't be too much of a shock if at least one package ends up on ESPN America.

This simply shouldn't be allowed to happen. There must be valid competition for Sky. Regrettably I fear it will. I really hope that Digital Terrestrial Viewers will be able to pick up some quality subscription sport if they do fail, even if it reluctantly comes from Murdoch.

Ofcom should be working overtime now on the Wholesale / Retail / Distribution issue on their review. Hopefully TopUpTV would be legally entitled to, and be able to, buy SS1 (or a package) from Sky under the new rules and offer it on DTT in Setanta's place.

I do have hopes of an eleventh hour rescue though.