Setanta win Irish Formula 1 rights!

mike65

No more Peter Collins - ever!!

Just heard this news, no details yet.

Mike.

DMC

From setanta.com

New Irish Channel to carry live races, practice and qualifying.

Setanta Sports, the new Irish sporting channel, today announced that it has won the exclusive Republic of Ireland television rights to Formula 1 for a three-year period beginning with the 2005 season.

Setanta Sports, which has only been broadcasting since August, is available to 750,000 Irish households and is broadcast on the NTL, Sky and Chorus Digital Networks.

Under the terms of the deal, Setanta Sports will broadcast live coverage of each of the 2005 F1 races starting with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday 6th March 2005.

The good news for Irish Formula 1 fans is that Setanta Sports will be showing the most comprehensive coverage of F1 ever seen on Irish screens.
This will include live coverage of every race throughout the season along with Friday practice, Saturday practice, qualifying and Sunday's Super-Qualifying. The races will also be repeated during the week.

Commenting on the deal, Niall Cogley, Chief Executive, Setanta Sports said: "This is a significant milestone for the development of Setanta Sports and the inclusion of Formula 1 to our portfolio indicates our serious intention to make Setanta Sports the home of quality Irish sports broadcasting.

"We are committed to providing top quality sporting action that is of particular interest to the Irish sporting public, and Formula 1 is another notable success for the channel.

"Formula 1 is one of the most-watched sports in the world and Ireland is no exception with legions of fans throughout the country. Viewers to Setanta Sports will enjoy enhanced extended coverage of F1 with practice, qualifying, the new super-qualifying and then the race itself along with repeat opportunities to view," he added.

"Although in existence for just a matter of months, Setanta Sports already broadcasts live and exclusive soccer, with 15 English Premier League and over 50 Scottish Premier League matches throughout the season, along with weekly live Serie A from Italy. In 2005, Setanta Sports will be the broadcaster and sponsor for the new All-Ireland Soccer Cup - The Setanta Cup. In addition, the channel broadcasts over 50 live Celtic League Rugby matches during the season along with a variety of other sports and special events," he concluded.

This weekend, Setanta Sport also features live and exclusive coverage of the Old Firm derby, Rangers v Celtic, at 12.30pm on Saturday 20 November 2004.

Not surprised. To me, it stuck out like a sore thumb on RTÉ when other national sports are worthy of coverage. And would watch the odd race.

Still, there is ITV.

bazza

They just mentioned it on the Last Word on Today FM. That is going to pose a problem for some people with Sky Digital and as ITV will be the only other operator that show it. Unless of course you want to pay the subs for Setanta.... Is F1 really worth it these days? I'd kinda have to say no. Didn't that F1 pay channel on Sky Digital pack up after one season cos no-one subscribed.

Be interesting to see what Setanta charge and if they'll provide enhanced coverage.

DMC

But if ITV changes its encryption on Satellite, as could happen this weekend, you would not be so much at a loss.

"F1 Digital +" died because of two things... 1. Michael Shumacher and Barrichello made it into a procession as much as this season as that year it was available (2001 or 2002?) and 2. Not enough paying customers for poor races that year. Production values were excellent.

Mossy Monk

this new rival to F1 that starts next year looks more promising anyway

all the cars are the same for a start so it will be the best driver that wins it, but thats only on Sky Sports AFAIK

BrianD

So are going to have a TV3 and Setanta keep C4 and UTV off Irish EPG's thread?

icdg

So is Ireland the first country in Europe where the races won't be available on terrestrial FTA TV??? Bernie (and the sponsors who drive, excuse the pun, Formula 1) usually insist on that. I remember there being uproar from FOA when ITV threw a race on to ITV2 (probably Indianapolis, but I can't remember exactly) without consulting FOA first.

bazza

Very interesting - wonder how we can point this fact out to Bernie and the boys?!

eoinm1

God how did the FIA sell the rights to a channel only some NTL customers can get with out having to pay extra.

How many People on Sky or Chorus will pay the 12 euro a month for the GP.
I don't have sky but if is did i still could not justify that extra cost.
This will be bad for Jordan as most of his home fans will not be able to see it.

/me is p!ssed off

Eóin

steviec

Is this really such a big deal? I don't know anyone who doesn't have access to ITV, nor do I know anyone who bothered to watch RTE's woeful coverage, except during the ads on ITV, and even then watching ads was sometimes preferable. Maybe outside of Dublin where people have different packages it has more of an affect... But I can't see it being a problem for 95% of people really. If I didn't have ITV I probably would have stopped watching F1 long ago anyway. I'm actually pleased with this, Setanta have a chance to offer decent coverage from an Irish perspective.

dmeehan

have setanta announced what price they will charge for this? i dont see how they think they will make money cahrging for something that is free on itv (i know everyone doesnt have itv, but a lot do)

celticfc

dmeehan wrote:

have setanta announced what price they will charge for this? i dont see how they think they will make money cahrging for something that is free on itv (i know everyone doesnt have itv, but a lot do)

It won't be Pay-Per-View, it will be part of the subscription channel. If your on Sky digital the channel costs €12.99 per month, ntl analogue & digital customers will get it for free.

Mossy Monk

but for how much longer?

celticfc

Who knows, there's been rumours of it going into a subscription package with NASN, CelticTV & RangersTV sometime in the new year. Nothing from Setanta or ntl about it so far though.

icdg

I'm not sure it would have been put on NTL analogue if it was going to be subscription - NTL have been trying to get the premium channels off analogue for some time now (if your going to be renting decoders you may as well be on digital). So if it goes premium you can probably expect it to disappear off NTL analogue (and the viewing figures to drop sharply...)

celticfc

icdg wrote:

I'm not sure it would have been put on NTL analogue if it was going to be subscription - NTL have been trying to get the premium channels off analogue for some time now (if your going to be renting decoders you may as well be on digital). So if it goes premium you can probably expect it to disappear off NTL analogue (and the viewing figures to drop sharply...)

Yes, exactly, almost certain suicide for the channel.

There was a thread discussing this in the TV forum a couple of weeks back - See here.

Elmo

No more Peter Collins - ever!!

Isn't the Head of Satanta Ireland not the same guy who let Peter Collins on RTE doing F1?

Me thinks Peter Collins could move to Satanta.

Also Satanta Could become Irelands Fifth Terristral station

ando

celticfc wrote:

ntl analogue & digital customers will get it for free.

oh thats a nice supprise, I taught it was pay per view

GreeBo

ando wrote:

oh thats a nice supprise, I taught it was pay per view

Thought.

Mossy Monk

Elmo wrote:

Also Satanta Could become Irelands Fifth Terristral station

says who?

if you don't mind me asking

DMC

Mossy Monk wrote:

says who?

if you don't mind me asking

I'd like to know too. Odd statement.

mike65

The only ppl who have suggested Setanta will be Irelands 5th national channel are Setanta in thier press release during the summer.

Mike.

DMC

National, maybe (in terms of cable and satellite penetration). Terrestrial, definitely not.

channelsurfer

heres a thought about setanta/rte's deal for live premiership on a saturday.. it looks very bad for rte the next time the rights are negotiated. Setanta will want it as a selling point for more subscriptions i.e. exclusivly live premiership every saturday at 3 pm .. and judging by the formula one thing rte will be helpless due to limited budget etc..
seems like its only the start of rte loosing tv rights to setanta.

Elmo

says who?

if you don't mind me asking

Sorry Mossy and DCM that was just a suggestion

They COULD become Irelands number 5, IMO.

National, maybe (in terms of cable and satellite penetration). Terrestrial, definitely not.

Do they not already have this? and its not like the BCI really need to issue a licence to them.

I personally would like to see a 5th channel, but it should go to some one other the TV3. That would be such as waste to give it to TV3, just look at C4 in NZ. :mad:

Elmo

and judging by the formula one thing rte will be helpless due to limited budget etc..
seems like its only the start of rte loosing tv rights to setanta.

And if RTE are lossing right to sporting events to Setanta then Setanta should become the 5 CHANNEL.

Does RTE really need F1? or the Premiership. It wasn't long ago when they didn't have access to either.

It would be worse for RTE if Setanta started bidding for GAA rights.

A station that doesn't need a licence to broadcast (lets face it the BCI are only fooling themselfs) is now making more of an impact then TV3 ever has.

(There is only one sport on TV3 so far and that is soccer.)

DMC

Elmo wrote:

Do they not already have this? and its not like the BCI really need to issue a licence to them.

As I understand it, Setanta are in discussions with the BCI to be a licenced service. I think this will be in place when Setanta plan to launch a 7 day service.

But it wont be a 5th terrestrial network. There simply isnt space on the transmission network, even if DTT is a few years down the way.

GreeBo

Christ Allmighty, its Setanta!
Setanta. :mad:

Elmo

Christ Allmighty, its Setanta!

Is it not almighty?

But it wont be a 5th terrestrial network. There simply isnt space on the transmission network, even if DTT is a few years down the way.

How come The UK has 5 channels?

As I understand it, Setanta are in discussions with the BCI to be a licenced service.

Well as I see it Setanta have backed the BCI into a corner as they are currently on the NTL basic package. (are they available on Sky's basic package?).

I honestly think that the BCI HAVE TO provide them with the licence, and that will be at the expence of other bidders for the licence, thus making the BCI look like they have no power what so ever.

It seems to me that it is really up to NTL, Chorus and Sky if they provide a channel or not.

This is the first time that the BCI or the IRTC have ever attempted issusing licences for Cable broadcast. Cable broadcast is older then the BCI/IRTC. It just makes them look like fools.

Mossy Monk

Elmo wrote:

(are they available on Sky's basic package?)

no, it's premium on Sky

DMC

Elmo wrote:

How come The UK has 5 channels?

They just about fitted in Channel 5 and DTT. No doubt, the south of the country would be able to accomodate a 5th network, BUT not the northern half and east coast, with UK overspill.

I honestly think that the BCI HAVE TO provide them with the licence, and that will be at the expence of other bidders for the licence, thus making the BCI look like they have no power what so ever.

It seems to me that it is really up to NTL, Chorus and Sky if they provide a channel or not.

This is the first time that the BCI or the IRTC have ever attempted issusing licences for Cable broadcast. Cable broadcast is older then the BCI/IRTC. It just makes them look like fools.

No, the channel is part-time at present, so they are looking for a full licence when it goes full time.

Elmo

No, the channel is part-time at present, so they are looking for a full licence when it goes full time.

That's fine but some how I cann't see the BCI saying no. And that doesn't provide that the BCI aren't WEAK. They could also go full time at anytime if they wanted, they could just broadcast the UK version across Ireland (I mean its not like they need rights for sporting events to broadcast on Cable, just look at ITV (F1) and BBC (Rugby)) and they opt out for their part time service like Sky News.

They just about fitted in Channel 5 and DTT. No doubt, the south of the country would be able to accomodate a 5th network, BUT not the northern half and east coast, with UK overspill.

RTE One And N2 is available across the country on Two Channels. UHF and VHF.
TV3 and TG4 is also available across the country on two channels on UHF.

Perhaps 1,2,3 and 4 could give up one of their places.

Can we not over spill into the UK?

DMC

Elmo wrote:

RTE One And N2 is available across the country on Two Channels. UHF and VHF.
TV3 and TG4 is also available across the country on two channels on UHF.

Perhaps 1,2,3 and 4 could give up one of their places.

Can we not over spill into the UK?

Crikey, you dont understand what way the transmitters work in this country!
RTE 1 and 2 are still on VHF as RTÉ havent bothered their arses closing Band III transmissions. Band III in the UK is now used for DAB, which the BBC have said in the past is preventing DAB from working better in NI. Also, to prevent overlap and interference, the 4 Irish channels on UHF are grouped right across the UHF band, normally in groups of 4, (some anolomies, Three Rock, for instance) in either polarisation etc. And add in a DTT network?

As for overspill to the North and the UK, its minimal.. check your 6th class atlas and look at the terrain....