Water Cooler:BREAKING NEWS: Setanta Sports UK Goes Off the Air
I’ve just got the news that Setanta Sports UK has gone into administration and is off the British TV airwaves.
Irish pay-TV company Setanta has today been placed into administration after rescue talks designed to secure new funding collapsed. Accountancy firm Deloitte has confirmed it has been appointed as administrator for the UK part of the business, which employs about 200 staff. They will now be made redundant. Setanta Sports News, the company’s joint venture with Virgin Media, which is produced by ITN and employs about 60 additional staff, ceased broadcasting at 6pm today. The broadcaster’s other wholly owned channels, including Setanta Sports 1 and 2, went off air around the same time.
Much more to come obviously but over 200 jobs have been lost. This does not affect overseas Setanta channels such as Setanta USA and Setanta Canada (yet), but some other unconfirmed reports say that they too may be on life support.
We knew that as soon as they lost the football rights they were dead. But now it is confirmed. They were strapped for cash and have paid the ultimate price.
The day after ESPN snapped up UK Barclays Premier League rights from the Irish-based network as well as (with Sky) their Scottish Premier League packages, Setanta Sports UK is no longer.
Regular updates will happen if anything else new is published.
RIP Setanta Sports
1990-2009
