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Rupert Murdoch and Fox snap up Setanta Sports

By
DONAL THORNTON,
IrishCentral.com Travel Writer

Published Monday, January 11, 2010, 8:09 AM
Updated Monday, January 11, 2010, 9:31 AM

 

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Irish broadcaster Setanta Sports
Fox are set to buy Setanta Sports
Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA

Fox Sports international has agreed to buy the Setanta Sports company in the U.S.
 
Setanta Sports is owned by Leonard Ryan, Michael Rourke and Mark O'Meara. The company was founded first in Britain and Ireland and consequently set up further broadcasting companies in Australia, Canada and the US.
 
Setanta Sports went into receivership in Briatin last year. However, this did not affect its other foreign operations in North America or Australia.
 
It is not yet known how much money Fox will pay for Setanta Sports. The last set of accounts published for Setanta Sports North America Ltd were for the year ending December 31st 2006. They had incurred a loss of $10.6million. Only their Canadian operation is thought to be "making money."
 
Fox and Setanta have shared rights to live sports in the past. Fox had sub licensed English premier league games to Setanta Sports. They also shared rights to show the European Champions League and England's FA Cup.
 
Setanta had struggled with payments to Fox Sports in the past and Rupert Murdoch's company recently revoked Setanta's right to broadcast European soccer games.
 
Setanta is still available in over 42 million homes in the US and Caribbean. It is available in both cable and satellite and costs $14.99 a month. The channel typically broadcasts Heineken Cup rugby, GAA, and soccer matches from England, France and Russia.

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3 Comments

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Posted by plasticpaddy on Jan 12, 2010, 12:13 AM EST
Setanta is a complete ripoff. They have been messing around removing premier league games from their schedules. They are unreliable and charge a ridiculous $20 to go watch any Irish football game. This year they have made more of their content PPV in the past year. They are a disgrace. I say good riddance despite my having paid my annual online fee only a few months ago.
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Posted by willysandy on Jan 11, 2010, 12:56 PM EST
If Murdock buys Setanta Sports I hope he doesn't spoil this great sports channel like everything else he touches. I subscribe through DirecTV and may change my mind if he gets it.
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Posted by HenryJoy on Jan 11, 2010, 09:12 AM EST
Hope we will get better service than the present setup.Had decided not to subscribe this year
 


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