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Is Setanta Sports mad?

Is Setanta Sports going to go where the ITV Sports channel failed?

Is Setanta Sports going to go where the ITV Sports channel fail
Published on by on UK Free TV

Setanta Sports, the Irish sport TV company, says they are going to launch a stand-alone Top-Up TV channel which will show some Premiership and Scottish football matches, PGA Tour Golf and selected other "exclusive " sports.

Trevor East, the director of sport at Setanta, noted, Our research indicates there is substantial demand for a competitively priced premium sports service among Freeview homes.

Think you've heard this before? Even the company's logos are similar to the ITV Sport Channel!



Aside from the fact the Top-Up TV has almost no customers, no bandwidth and that almost all Freeview set-top boxes have no card slot, do you think that Setanta Sports will succeed when anyone who could ever conceive of having a premium sports channel will have Sky?







Your comments: most recent posts are at the bottom


Your comments are always welcome. Please use the form below to add your thoughts or questions to this page. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

jazz aitken
Wednesday 8 November 2006 5:58PM
having top up for two years and with setanta on for the last few months have been watching scottish sports game by game you saying they dont have any customers is wrong and the new anytime box will provide customers with more channels and more seltion and lok forward to more sport on a stand alone channel as it wil be part of a 9.99 a month package as an added on at a price
Briantist
Thursday 9 November 2006 11:02AM
gordon graham: if you think anytime is going to give you more channels, this is not true. It will give a small selection from about 50 hours of output a week. If you live in flats, you probably have the option to get NTL:Telewest too!
gordon grahm
Monday 13 November 2006 6:42PM
braintest they havent put telewest cable in our flats yet to many problems aloth we have be told our local council may put in sky so I will stay with anytime for the momment looking foward to disvery animal along with the sport!
Briantist
Tuesday 14 November 2006 1:15PM
Perhaps Sky in Flats can help?
ronnie1333
Friday 17 November 2006 8:02AM
Such an impartial and unbiased blog,i am suprised it's not been picked up by the BBC.

What a wonderful piece of reporting, its right up there with the Fox News channelfor accuracy.
Briantist
Sunday 19 November 2006 4:14PM
Rik: It's up to you to choose which companies you wish to give your hard-earned cash to. I can, and will, simply point out that Sky has 8 million customers, has bought 18% of ITV in the last week. Top-Up TV, on the other hand, have dropped their orginal service to make way for a PVR-based highlights service that offers about 0.5% of Sky's. Also, ITV Digital's ITV Sport channel left the Football Association clubs with nothing - well, £4, and ITV Digital lost billions. They do say that 'future intentions relate to past behavior'.
Briantist
Sunday 19 November 2006 4:16PM
ronnie1333: there is a world of difference between being impartial and being independent. Just because this site refuses to reguritiate every press office's output doesn't make it inaccurate. Which bit is inaccurate?
Ron Searle
Thursday 22 February 2007 11:51AM
Topup TV are certainly struggling to retain it's customers. I have "Anytime" but seriously wonder if it is worthwhile. Sports fans have already been largely deprived of Eurosport as it is now only available at the stupid time of 7.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. Who ever has a chance to watch it then, anyway ? It has also dropped it's viewing time of the popular U.K. Gold channel and others.We are never told why !
It is also impossible to find out what we will get on Setanta when it starts on March 1st prior to it screening Premiership football from next August.
I think that "Topup" is seriously in trouble as it is rapidly losing disgruntled customers
tom
Friday 23 February 2007 1:08AM
Setanta sports aren't simply offering their Premiership games and sports package to FREEVIEW customers. Their packages will also be avilable to SKY, NTL and TELEWEST customers for around a tenner a month too. Therefore, the TOP-UP TV deal is only a small part of what they are offering to UK customers. They are a worldwide company and aren't going to crack because of TOP-UP TV. The deal will simply enable TOP-UP TV to survive in a cut-throat world.
Alfred John Gundry
Sunday 15 April 2007 10:44AM
dear sir I will not be come a user of topuptv because there is no 24 hours tv to me this is awast of time so can I watch setanta sports with out going though them.
Briantist
Sunday 15 April 2007 10:45AM
Alfred John Gundry: They provide a selection of subscription channels on satellite and cable.
Chris
Sunday 22 April 2007 10:24PM
Sky are also offering a sports channel on Freeview post Summer 2007. Plus movies and presumably Sky One content.... (A dig at Virgin media maybe?) Anyway.If Setanta's model is wrong.... pushing premiership football to uk households via an aerial and a dish, then guess what Mr Murdoch is about to make a similar mistake !! I think not !

Setanta will survive due to interests in other areas and countries. Its entry into PGA Golf, Premiership Football and NOW FA Cup will see it home alright as its more than a Freeview extra.

I'm about to move home, and having subscribed to sky ever since I had too, having had Sky when it was free to air before that... I am now about try Setanta on Freeview using a Humax 9200T box. If sky offer an alternative thru the arial USING the same BOX I for one will be interested in both.
Briantist
Monday 23 April 2007 6:47AM
Chris: Sky have not applied to Ofcom for a licence for this service and are not expected to anymore.
Chris
Monday 21 May 2007 10:08PM
Setanta is here to blow the Empire that is Sky out of there well made bed, they are a world-wide company that has huge connections with ESPN who own NASN which setanta carry as part as there package on SAT & Cable, these will not do an ITV, why? They already have Premiership Football LIVE, US PGA Golf was takin from under Sky's Noses and barely missed out on Spanish Football by a whisker.

They will be around for quite some time yet.....
Briantist
Monday 21 May 2007 11:10PM
Chris: I can't see it...
John Gundry
Sunday 3 June 2007 12:45PM Somerton
I like to know if you intend to have more than one channel on freeview as you get a better deal on satellite for £15 freeview one channel£10.99?
Briantist
Sunday 3 June 2007 1:53PM
John Gundry: Sentanta have the bandwidth for a single Freeview channel.
scott
Saturday 16 June 2007 3:15PM
top up tv gives you DTR which is miles better than sky+ box because you dont have to pay £10 just to use the thing! plus sky you have to sign a contract for year or so . and skysports is to expensive for what it provides
Briantist
Monday 18 June 2007 7:49PM
scott: Sky no longer charge £10 per month.
scott
Tuesday 19 June 2007 4:39PM
well i checked the other day and it said id still have to pay £10! so im stickin with top up tv

sky is just so hyped up! they just buy everything up and then charge people double what its worth to see it, they can suck on my cock i aint gettin sky ever!
Briantist
Tuesday 19 June 2007 4:41PM
scott: The £10 fee is permanently withdrawn from July 1st 2007. Sky+ ten quid monthly fee abolished | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV and switchover advice sky+ fee - Google News
Les Edwards
Wednesday 4 July 2007 10:50PM
Setanta, It pleases me that people are now going against the extortionate SKY prices. I will be getting a freeview PVR soon mainly for the golf,and as long as Setanta keep the sports channels reasonably priced myself and a lot more others will subscribe.

Cheers, Awesome in Northumbria..
Briantist
Thursday 5 July 2007 8:41AM
Les Edwards: Don't forget that the channel is free on Freeview at the moment.
barneybing
Tuesday 10 July 2007 9:44PM
Yes they are launched since Mar 1st and the good news is you don't have to be a top up tv customer. all you need is a box with a slot or a digital tv with a card slot. They can send you out a new box for a small fee and its bye bye sky sports. 9.99 a month for setanta and you get 46 premiership games, scottish spl and Fa cup coming next year. They also have all the american golf if your into it.. . .
Waspy 100
Sunday 15 July 2007 8:58PM
SKY is out the box (excuse the pun) £50 a month = £600 a year.
Never realised it had crept up that much.
Goodbye SKY welcome freeview.
Will be contacting Setanta this week about their service and cost.
If it dont suit will watch online.
Stephen
Friday 27 July 2007 8:24PM
Setanta, is there anyway possible you can increase the number of channels you show to at least Setanta 1 & 2
pj
Wednesday 1 August 2007 8:47AM
For me watching football on TV was a luxury I was not prepared to spend £34/month (which is the minimum price you can pay) over a 12month contract.

I have just subscribed to Setanta. I've never had "top-up tv" before just a digital TV so I had to buy a CAM for £30.

£9.99 a month to see half the number of premiership games shown on Sky is good value and the scottish/european football will ensure there is always a game on when the missus is out!

BTW the broardband service will give you all 6 or 8 channels (whatever it is) and only costs £7.99/month. Obviously I don't want to watch on the computer but for some this might be better.

Joe
Thursday 2 August 2007 8:40PM
Freeview bandwidth should be free, we need to remove topup TV and provide more free channels!
John Threadwell
Saturday 4 August 2007 12:00PM
I am interested in purchasing Setanta on a Freeview Box but I have just been to Argos who seem to be the only retailer in England at the present moment who are selling the Boxes and they told me that their will not be any arriving for another three weeks.

I don't Know about anyone else but this is bad management on Setanta's part considering the new season starts in less than a week and they have known for some considerable amount of time that customers would want to buy the boxes before the season begins.
Geoff Noble
Wednesday 8 August 2007 7:46PM
Are Setanta considering broadcasting test cricket ect.I would certainly be interested as I find quite annoying that the only source for the cricket is sky
Briantist
Wednesday 8 August 2007 8:27PM
Geoff Noble: It's possible, but they already have a portfolio to get people to pay for first.
Richy
Saturday 11 August 2007 5:41PM
Does anyone know if its possible to get Setanta Ireland, as a lot of the Premiership matches seem to be on there.
Briantist
Saturday 11 August 2007 10:13PM
Richy: I think this version of the channel is only sold to the ROI.
lime
Thursday 13 September 2007 11:48PM
Setanta ready boxes/packs are available from John Lewis, Tescos, Argos and Comet. I also understand that Setanta freeview cards are also available. On Freeview (channel 34/Setanta) the main things are covered... the best of the 8-10 channels offered to viewers with a sky digi box for the same price.... difference with freeview is you pay a month in advance as well as for the month with the connection fee. You do not need to be a sKY SUBSCRIBER TO ACCESS sETANTA but you DO NEED a viewing card number... whether it be the 9 digit satellite viewing card number or the freeview card number.... the sky viewing number is best accessed thru your remote... press the services button on your remote, followed by 4 then 5 and the viewing card number is the 5th number down....
Briantist
Friday 14 September 2007 9:15AM
lime: This information is on the Welcome to Setanta Sports | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV and switchover advice page.
Zico
Thursday 27 September 2007 5:58PM
Setanta advertise £9.99 per month and no annual contract EVERYWHERE but FAIL to advertise the HIDDEN connection fee of £10 ANYWHERE !!!

Try and find ANY mention of a £10 connection fee ANYWHERE on their site !!

They refuse to reimburse my £10 !!

I simply won't TRUST them ever again ....their loss !!
Briantist
Thursday 27 September 2007 7:21PM
Zico: You are right. That's outlawed under the Unfair terms in consumer contracts regulations - demand your money back or go to Trading Standards.
Dean Ensor
Wednesday 2 April 2008 2:00PM
my last comment on here ref Setanta wheither it would go free in the future for Non Pay Tv Viewers I was told some programmes would be Free to air from Setanta I dont get it all and I live in Cornwall rural all I get is a few seconds preview before a live match and thats it ITV who own it should decide what they want my agrument with the credit crunch in this country at moment ie rising standards of living etc when will Tv bosses finally learn people top or low incomers cant afford to keep shelling out for pay tv ETC no matter what the price a free to air sports channel is much needed there is a big gap in the market for that what happened to Setanta Sports News coming to vacant channel 15 on freeview
Briantist
Thursday 3 April 2008 11:17AM
Dean Ensor: ITV don't own Setanta Sports. It is an company based in Ireland. I suspect that the people who own the rights do not give a care about people, either on low incomes or in rural areas. They are interested in restricting access to the sports programmes so they can make a large profit from it. There is no spare capacity on Freeview for Setanta Sports. The channel numbers are allocated by Freeview, gaps do not indicate anything other than unused numbers.
Rockmore
Friday 2 January 2009 9:42PM
Is Setanta like a newly formed version of ITV Digital?
Briantist
Friday 2 January 2009 9:49PM
Rockmore: No, it is an Irish sports broadcaster...
Rockmore
Friday 2 January 2009 10:14PM
Yeah but has the recent investment come from those that previously backed ITV Digital?
Jordy
Saturday 3 January 2009 2:29AM
Rockmore - There's been no investment from the previously backed itv digital whatsoever as far as i know setanta inherited itv digital's transmission suite and thats about the only connection thats relevant...
Briantist
Saturday 3 January 2009 5:18AM
Rockmore : This page is dated 11th Oct 2006 and refers to the situation then, 2¼ years ago.
Briantist
Saturday 3 January 2009 5:24AM
Jordy: ITV Digital was Carlton and Granada before they merged into ITV plc. They have nothing whatsoever to do with Setanta.
Jordy
Saturday 3 January 2009 10:06AM
Brian - That's what i was implying but your completely correct...
Jordy
Saturday 3 January 2009 10:12AM
Brian - After you wrote that article back on the 11th October 2006 i'd be interested to know your thoughts on Setanta as it stands...
Briantist
Saturday 3 January 2009 4:30PM
Jordy: I'm not really sure. The thing I have heard the most about is their lack of customer services and the problems this causes for both Freeview and Sky viewers.

Since I wrote the above article, Top Up TV has moved mainly to the "Anytime" service with Setanta being the only full-time live channel they have. The most ironic thing is that the multiplex operator SDN is now owned by ITV plc.

I can't help thinking that Sky isn't too unhappy with the situation, as long as Setanta gets the dregs of the football rights, the Competition Commission will stay off their backs.

But you have to wonder about Setanta's funding now the credit is crunched...
Briantist
Saturday 3 January 2009 4:32PM
Jordy: Sorry I think I should have directed that comment at Rockmore...
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