Setanta need to start a HD channel, I did email Setanta a few months ago and the reply was we might start showing HD games on PPV :eek:

Setanta couldn't even show the entire segment of the teams being presented on the field before the start of the Spurs v Man Utd game yesterday, but, as usual, broke away with their inane promos. Tell me, Robin100, why do they continue to show these promos ? It's akin to 'preaching to the choir', is it not ? You can only view Setanta if you subscribe, so why do they keep on with their promoting Setanta to their subscribers ? It's the promoting of Setanta to those who don't subscribe that the promos should be directed at ! As it is, it is just pure unadulterated torture. Maybe you have to be Irish to endure it ! :rolleyes:

Anyone else having problems with the Setanta Canada website? The videos don't work and many of the links aren't working either. I tried e-mailing them but received no response. They certainly are an infuriating outfit to deal with.

Same here. I did persevere to the point that I was able to determine that there was a Premiership game, Hull City v Aston Villa, but by that time I had already missed most of the first half. Thankfully, the score was still 0-0 at that point. I thought Man Utd had the most luck of any team in the EPL, but it looks as though Villa are beginning to be contenders where luck is concerned. How does a guy face his team mates in the dressing room after costing them the whole three points in added time ?

Same here. I did persevere to the point that I was able to determine that there was a Premiership game, Hull City v Aston Villa, but by that time I had already missed most of the first half. Thankfully, the score was still 0-0 at that point. I thought Man Utd had the most luck of any team in the EPL, but it looks as though Villa are beginning to be contenders where luck is concerned. How does a guy face his team mates in the dressing room after costing them the whole three points in added time ?
You win as a team and you lose as a team. That's how you become a team.

The replays showed and the commentator noted that a Villa player was right behind him in a good position to score also.

You win as a team and you lose as a team. That's how you become a team.

Couldn't have said it better myself ;).

Hi,
I am Scottish and I e-mailed Setanta suggesting they show Hearts v Hibs cup tie, as in US, instead of Celtic v Dundee on their Canadian web page. They eventually changed it - my e-mail or not?
I e-mailed a few days later asking if they would be considering showing the Kilmarnock (my team) v Ayr cup replay on Thurs 22. Hey presto it is now on their web page.
Seems like someone's listening?
Robin

Hi,
I am Scottish and I e-mailed Setanta suggesting they show Hearts v Hibs cup tie, as in US, instead of Celtic v Dundee on their Canadian web page. They eventually changed it - my e-mail or not?
I e-mailed a few days later asking if they would be considering showing the Kilmarnock (my team) v Ayr cup replay on Thurs 22. Hey presto it is now on their web page.
Seems like someone's listening?
Robin
So that's why I didn't get to watch my beloved Dundee for the first time in years (even though they lost). Gee, thanks a lot.

Never mind, Boca, Hearts v Hibs was a more attractive tie and we see enough of the Old Firm anyway. Also, you can see United from time to time so next best thing for a Dundonian anyway, eh? Just to whet your appetite further I see they have Kilmarnock on again on Sunday 1 Feb (v St Mirren)!

Hi,
I am Scottish and I e-mailed Setanta suggesting they show Hearts v Hibs cup tie, as in US, instead of Celtic v Dundee on their Canadian web page. They eventually changed it - my e-mail or not?No offense, but don't you forfeit your Scottish citizenship for paying $15/month to subscribe to a TV channel!

No offense, but don't you forfeit your Scottish citizenship for paying $15/month to subscribe to a TV channel!
What do you mean?

What do you mean?Scots have the reputation for being thrifty and not giving in to such extravagance as paying $15/month for a TV channel.

Scots have the reputation for being thrifty and not giving in to such extravagance as paying $15/month for a TV channel.
Being a proud Scot myself, I find that stereotype rather tiresome and totally unfounded. But since this forum is supposed to deal with items about Setanta, I'll just leave it at that.

Iwould add we are only thrifty to the point of wanting value for money, and who isn't. I consider Setanta value for money e.g. from Monday this week to Sunday we will have had 10 live UK matches, all good ones, and for $4......

I agree - I subscribe to Setanta since I am a rugby fan and without Setanta I would get no rugby and I would not have seen Scotland beat England in last year's Six Nations. Most Scots, including my wife, are proud of this reputation!

*BSkyB have retained 4 of the 6 UK packages* Feb 2/09

If ESPN is successful, what effect will it have on Setanta Canada?

**FROM SPORTSBUSINESSJOURNAL.COM**

"Bidders line up for U.S. rights to Premiership

By TRIPP MICKLE and JOHN OURAND
Staff writers

Published January 26, 2009 : Page 01
At least three networks have emerged as serious bidders for the U.S. media rights to the English Premier League, the world’s most popular soccer league.

ESPN, Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports are lining up to acquire the rights when the bidding process officially opens this spring or early summer. The EPL is making a three-year package available, from the 2010-11 season through the 2012-13 season.

The U.S. media rights will be awarded after the league decides what to do with the six British packages that it is selling. The EPL has set aside Feb. 3 as the day it will hold an auction for those packages, sources said. Fox Soccer parent News Corp., Setanta and ESPN all plan to bid on those U.K. rights.

The process in the U.S. and other international regions should begin soon after that tender has concluded, which is a risk considering the havoc that the global economic recession is having on media companies.

The time difference between Britain and the United States also is working against a significant U.S. rights fee increase, especially since most EPL games would be played on weekend mornings — a time slot that typically does not see big enough ad sales to justify a large rights fee increase.

During the last bidding process, the EPL netted just $57 million over three years from Setanta and Fox Soccer for rights in the U.S. That sum amounts to just 6 percent of its total international rights.

Overall, the EPL has reaped a windfall from its last round of TV contracts, which is bringing in $3.5 billion per year in the current contract — $2.5 billion of that from the domestic British market.

“We know through the Fox (ratings) numbers and the Champions League number from ESPN that there’s a legitimate demand for the sport here,” said Jeff L’Hote, head of LFC International, a New York-based soccer consultancy. “The opportunity for a U.S. broadcaster in this round of bidding is greater than last time and for that reason the value will increase.”

The Premier League is hoping that a bidding war will push the U.S. rights fees higher. Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports are expected to bid aggressively, since the Premier League has been the foundation of both networks. Fox Soccer, which has held the rights since 1998, changed its name from Fox Sports World in 2005 largely because of the value of the Premier League, and it is now distributed in approximately 35 million homes. Its highest-rated Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United drew 243,000 viewers on Jan. 11.

“We’ve been their partner for 11 years now in the U.S.,” said Fox Soccer Channel general manager David Sternberg. “We’re focused on continuing that relationship, and we’re going to pursue vigorously the extension of our programming rights.”

Setanta Sports is a premium channel that costs $14.99 a month and is available on Dish Network, DirecTV, Cox, Comcast, AT&T U-Verse and Verizon FiOS. Soccer is one of its key sports, and the Premier League is its most important property with more than 150 live and exclusive matches per season.


Hall“We know that the product is arguably the most important product in the soccer marketplace in terms of viewer appeal,” said Roger Hall, managing director international for Setanta Sports. “That’s going to make it a competitive process that will involve the usual suspects.”

Setanta and Fox Soccer collaborated to split the U.S. rights for three seasons in 2007. The deal has worked well for both parties and it’s possible that they will collaborate again later this year. Because Setanta is a premium channel, it doesn’t require advertisers the same way Fox Soccer does; and because Fox Soccer doesn’t show every game, Setanta is still worth purchasing in the eyes of the most ardent soccer fans.

“We have a very good track record [with Fox Soccer Channel],” Hall said. “All things point to that being a positive relationship in the future.”

The Premier League also is counting on ESPN making a serious bid based on the network’s increased interest in soccer since the last time EPL rights were up for bid. In that time, ESPN signed Major League Soccer to an $8 million-per-year deal through 2014.

ESPN could be more interested in the EPL’s broadband rights, which are currently held by Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta, rather than its TV rights. ESPN has been building up its online video network, ESPN360, with international soccer rights."

My personal view is that I hope Setanta wins since if they don't have EPL rights then the channel will pretty much cease to exist. I rarely watch soccer but that is bad for me since I watch rugby and before Setanta came to Canada we got almost no rugby. Setanta now provides pretty much all of the major rugby evetns (6 Nations, TriNations, Super 14, Heineken Cup, Guiness (England) Premiership and Magners (Wales, Ireland, Scotland) League. I don't like paying $15 per month but at least I watch this content.

Setanta denies it faces a crisis but sports braced for decline in rights value

The company is engaged in a wide–ranging strategic review in the wake of last week's Premier League rights auction, when it retained only one package of 23 live games from 2010. While seeking to play down speculation of a crisis, Setanta insiders yesterday conceded that it will have to cut costs severely and downsize if it is unable to regain the rights to the Premier League games it has lost...Setanta's single package from last week's record-breaking £1.782bn deal for live domestic Premier League rights means that from 2010 it will pay £159m over three years compared to the £392m invested under the current deal, but will screen half as many matches. With 23 live games per season, fewer than one a week, it will find it hard to retain subscribers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/feb/12/setanta-television-rights-premier-league

Wonder what this means for Setanta Canada but it can't be good.

hopefully it means they go away & the games are free somewhere again, but I have my doubts about that.

Yeah I wonder if Setanta Canada will be affected anyways. If they are only showing a handful of games then that's $15 they won't be getting from me.