re: setanta pricing increase

I've actually been pondering this season going without Setanta altogether. I didn't, but I'm thinking about canceling it at the end of this season and not looking back. 15 bucks a month adds up.

Actually it's $17.00 a month now. Still works out to under $4.00 a week. Less if you cancel for June/July which I will do this year for the first time. If Setanta thought they were going to get more money by raising the monthly rate, then I'm not going to help them do it. And judging from what i've read and heard, it's a 13% price increase they may come to regret.

^^^^^^

Yup. I'm cancelling for the summer too.

I agree that the programming during June & July on Setanta is not as attractive as the rest of the year, especially if the Euro Cup and World Cup happen to be on. As such, I fully agree with cancelling your subscription until the programming includes EPL etc.

I do have to disagree with the notion that a 13% increase has been unreasonable. It was the first increase in 3 years and HD was included (depending on the carrier).

Less than 4 bucks a week is a price I can live with. heck, you can't even get a pint at your local for $4.00 anymore.

I would think that if enough people cancelled their subscription for the summer then you would be spot on with your assumption that it was a decision they might regret . It is just a matter of arithmetic.

I've cancelled my subscription the last 2 summers. When I phoned last year the person at Rogers commented that there'd been a lot of phone calls to cancel - and was curious what had happened (end of the season I said ...).

I think they know a lot of people cancel for the summer - and are expecting it.

The increase was unfortunate, but as noted, it was the first one in years.

I'll concede the "first increase in three years" bit, and yes they did bring in HD, but we also lost some EPL coverage to TSN & RSN, plus no more French League, so it tends to even itself out. I still think it's a good deal at under $4.00/week. But the increase has convinced me to cancel for the summer, something I didn't do the last couple of years. So it remains to be seen if it was a wise move on their part.

Yeah I think Setanta lost first choice games to TSN, which sucks. TSN is just rebroadcasting ESPN's feed. Even if Bell's TSN HD quality level is higher then what they do for Setanta, I can't stand the daft ESPN pre-game and halftime commentators.

TSN is the same as ESPN. It's like they just go out to the street, find whatever middle aged Englishman they can, stick a suit on him and put him on camera as their token Englishman.

You don't like Steve McManaman? Noel Butler isn't great on TV.

For HD I don't mind paying the extra $2.

Umm... ESPN's commentators are some of the best in the business. Ian Darke was #2 at Sky before ESPN lured him away. Steve McManaman has worked on UK TV before too. Those guys certainly aren't just "some Englishman off the street". Noel Butler does host a soccer radio show in Montreal.

While Setanta has lost a very good Saturday 7:45 game to TSN2, they games the Sunday 11am game from The Score. These are generally the two best games of the week, so not a big loss there. They did lose the Saturday afternoon game to Sportsnet One, but in the UK that is usually the 3rd or even 5th choice of games most weeks.

Setanta (Canada) should at least have tried to keep some of us interested over the summer by picking up MLS games. But they don't even try.

Setanta (Canada) should at least have tried to keep some of us interested over the summer by picking up MLS games. But they don't even try.
Not sure there a big enough market to make it worthwhile, although with Vancouver now on the scene the numbers might be better. Plus the rights are probably multi-year, so every two years they'd be going up against The World Cup and the Euros, which get huge ratings.

At the risk of getting run out of town, I wish they'd bid for some one-day cricket, especially the English 20/20 tournament. For me that beats endless repeats of last seasons BPL games.

In my opinion, Steve McManaman is useless and Noel Butler is like watching paint dry. Darkie is probably the only exception.

So what if they've had jobs before or have radio shows? Just because someone has a resume doesn't mean they've done a good job. :-) But we can agree to disagree, it's all subjective right?

One interesting point: I have Sky and I've actually flicked back and forth from TSN/ESPN feed to Sky during half and the opinions of the two sides regarding match issues -- such as bad tackles or the referees decision making -- has actually been 100% opposite at times. Ie: TSN/ESPN saying the call was correct by the ref and Sky panel all in agreement that it was the wrong call. It's quite funny and I should try to record it the next time it happens.

While Setanta has lost a very good Saturday 7:45 game to TSN2, they games the Sunday 11am game from The Score. These are generally the two best games of the week, so not a big loss there. They did lose the Saturday afternoon game to Sportsnet One, but in the UK that is usually the 3rd or even 5th choice of games most weeks.

Thanks for clearing that up Josh, I wasn't 100% who lost what to whom. At least with The Score they've picked up some other matches.

Boca At the risk of getting run out of town, I wish they'd bid for some one-day cricket, especially the English 20/20 tournament. For me that beats endless repeats of last seasons BPL games.

Totally agree.

My question is how do you recieve SKY?

Question about Setanta, after the first month can you subscribe for part of a month? The reason I'm asking is I think I'll add it for next Tuesday's Champions League game between Manchester United and Chelsea and then keeping it until the FA Cup Final. That would be a total of 33 days. If I have to pay $30 for this, then I won't bother, but if it is only $15 + 3 days, then I'll do it.

Also, how is the PQ of Setanta SD in comparison to the other channels?

Can't answer the first part of your question but as to the pq issue it's been the subject of much comment here and I've found myself in a distinct minority stating the pq is very acceptable to me. I would list it as almost as good as fox's sd and better than goltv.

YMMV as always.

It could very well depend on who your carrier is. I'm certain there is a one month committment to start but depending on who you use they may prorate the partial month for you. I know this is the case with Shaw Cable.

It could very well depend on who your carrier is. I'm certain there is a one month committment to start but depending on who you use they may prorate the partial month for you. I know this is the case with Shaw Cable.

It has also been the case with Shaw Direct. I've cancelled Setanta before the full month was up (after having it for the minimum one month to begin with) and on each occasion my next bill included the entire month's cost of Setanta. But then the following month my account was credited on a pro-rata basis. So unless they've changed things (I doubt it) you'll initially be charged for the full two months but will then get your $15 minus three days for the second month back in the following bill.

Soccer:
They'll have the Gold Cup (Canada's games will be live on Sportsnet) in June. It doesn't look like they'll have Euro 2012 qualifying.

Rugby:
NRL, the end of the Super Rugby season. Maybe the final Tri-Nations (not quite as important in a World Cup year).

What else will they show?

I think they will have some EURO 2012 qualifying, including Ireland and England's home games on delay.

Add in Super League for rugby, its season runs concurrent to the NRL.

Subscriptions must really drop off dramatically this time of year. Maybe they should try to nab the Copa America as no one seems to have got it yet. There have got to be thousands of expats from Argentina, Columbia, Brazil and other places that would be willing to get the channel just for that tournament. I have no connections to South America yet even I would order it. Such new subscribers then might keep the channel because the new season will be just around the corner in August.