Setanta talking to Sky!

[.: JaCkPoT :.]

UK press reports suggest that struggling Irish pay-TV sports broadcaster Setanta is in serious talks with BSkyB about structuring a deal whereby Setanta?s channels could be sold via Sky?s digital sports bundles.

At the moment Setanta DTH subscribers must deal direct with Setanta. It is suggested that a similar model might emerge to that of Virgin Media, British Telecom and Tiscali, all of which act as wholesalers of Setanta channels for its cable viewers.

Setanta is already in discussion with its sports suppliers about reducing some of its financial obligations, not least the ?159m it is obliged to pay the (English) Premiere soccer league for coverage of games during the three-year period from 2010.


Regards,
Sadiq

[batman44]

If it does happen i think the monopolies commission might have something to say about it.

[alunfennell]

That would make sence as Sky Customer services is out sourced to a company in Cork Ireland called Abtram, Setanta presently use there offices in Dublin & London to deal with UK & ROI customers, by dealing directly through Sky Setanta could make serious savings and I suppose lay off staff in there call centers... Setanta are so straped for cash I would say a buy out or take over is imminent, they have taken on so much broadcasting rights and away from other providers thinking that subscriptions would increase & expanding into north America would cover all the costs .... How wrong they were .... the greed of some Sports channels is sometimes incomperhendable .... how many of them bite off more than they can chew......

Another one surly bits the dust.....................

Regards:
Alun

[bosvelt]

Sky have won 5 of the 6 packages available for the next EPL contract (although the deals have to be signed), Setanta are looking at various options, 1 of those options is to sell of assets in the hope to raise ?180 million so they can get some of the packages from Sky.