Sports Rights: English Premier League 2010/1 to 2012/3

Elmo · 16-07-2009 05:58PM

channelsurfer wrote: »

rte have no money seemingly they have spent it on 6nations gaa etc.... setanta can go take a running jump if they think that i will pay 15euro a month for 90% of the stuff i can get elsewhere either on s4c , utv or bbc(premiership excepted, skysports for that)

Then the question remains did TV3 or TG4 bid for the right. IMO its unlikely, TG4 have had their budget reduced and will prob have it slashed in a years time, while TV3 invested in Setanta UK.

fulhamfanincork · 17-07-2009 09:07PM

Setanta Irelands game being shown are:

Wigan v MAN UTD
22/08/09 15:00

Bolton v LIVERPOOL
29/08/09 15:00

LIVERPOOL v Burnley
12/09/09 15:00

ARSENAL v Wigan
19/09/09 15:00

Stoke City v MAN UTD
26/09/09 15:00

Bolton v Tottenham
03/10/09 15:00

MAN UTD v Bolton
17/10/09 15:00

MAN CITY v Fulham
24/10/09 15:00

Fulham v LIVERPOOL
31/10/09 15:00

Tottenham v Sunderland
07/11/09 15:00

JTMan · 19-07-2009 07:17PM

Setanta Sports Ireland to make 21 workers redundant

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2009/jul/19/setanta-sports-ireland-to-make-21-workers-redundan/

Setanta Sports Ireland to make 21 workers redundant
Ken Sweeney, Entertainment Editor
Setanta Sports Ireland is to make 21 staff redundant in the coming months. The Irish broadcaster will ask about 40 of its 150 Dublin-based staff to re-apply for their jobs before deciding where the 21 jobs will be lost. The cuts are expected to be made in production at the company.

Staff were told of the redun dancies on Friday afternoon but a formal announcement is not expected until tomorrow. "Everyone is glad Setanta in Ireland is continuing. It's just upsetting that so many colleagues are going to be laid off. We all knew it was coming but it was still a shock," said one employee.

Last week, staff at the company had been celebrating after Setanta Sports pipped British satellite broadcaster BSkyB for the right to show 33 live English Premier League games in the Republic of Ireland next season. No price was given by either Setanta or the Premier League, but insiders say the Irish TV company will pay just over €4m for the matches, which will be broadcast on Saturdays. The rights were won by a company called Setanta Hibernia, registered in Luxembourg.

The company's CEO Niall Cogley said he hoped the news would clear up any "confusion" about the future of Setanta in Ireland.

"Although there has been some confusion about Setanta Sports in Ireland following recent developments in the UK, we are now delighted to confirm that we will continue to provide our subscribers with the best-value premium sports service in Ireland and the most attractive sports option for all television advertisers."

Last month Setanta UK was forced into administration after it failed to meet payments to the English and Scottish Premier Leagues.

Elmo · 19-07-2009 07:37PM

Fungus wrote: »

Setanta Sports Ireland to make 21 workers redundant

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2009/jul/19/setanta-sports-ireland-to-make-21-workers-redundan/

This was likely to happen, already TV3 have made about the same amount redundant and RTÉ are looking to reduce their salary bill. Economic Climate is also to blame for this and it was like to happen. In fact I can see more redundancies in Setanta. Hopefully if they have call centre staff in Ireland they will be the first to go.

themont85 · 21-07-2009 12:31AM

Elmo wrote: »

750,000 per year and an est 4,000,000 million for 3 years?

No pricing structure, close SS1 and keep SI for basic subscriptions on all pay TV platforms. (And go FTA on DTT, defo help people go for DTT who are on Analogue Terrestrial).

I doubt that will happen unless Setanta go FTA. Sky won't pay for them to be in their News and Events Package(which most people get if they have Sky). Why would they? It undermines their whole SKy Sport Premier League football benanza having a channel which carries even one crappy game a week on their EPG. The only way it will happen is if Setanta go FTA by choice accross platforms. AGain I doubt they will. I reckon UPC are giving them a nice chunk of change to be a basic channel with them, its a great seeling point for UPC over Sky. Setanta is available in plenty of homes and would get nice ad revenue as it is. They were pulling a profit in Ireland pre the UK division collapsing so no need to risk the FTA market with a nice solid UPC income.

Mossy Monk · 21-07-2009 10:38AM

themont85 wrote: »

The only way it will happen is if Setanta go FTA by choice accross platforms.

No chance of this happening if they will be showing live Premier League football every week.

Elmo · 21-07-2009 11:43AM

I really should stop using FTA or FTV. Just on the basic package. What sports channels are currently available on the Sky digital basic package? It would save Setanta. But I suppose UPC may not want it to go on the basic sky digi pack especially if they plan to invest in Setanta.

byte · 21-07-2009 10:26PM

Elmo wrote: »

I really should stop using FTA or FTV. Just on the basic package. What sports channels are currently available on the Sky digital basic package? It would save Setanta. But I suppose UPC may not want it to go on the basic sky digi pack especially if they plan to invest in Setanta.

I guess, you mean, do what Eurosport do on Sky, being part of the News and Events Mix (and not a premium subscription channel).

Extreme Sports and Motors TV also on this Mix AFAIK.

Elmo · 21-07-2009 11:18PM

byte wrote: »

I guess, you mean, do what Eurosport do on Sky, being part of the News and Events Mix (and not a premium subscription channel).

Extreme Sports and Motors TV also on this Mix AFAIK.

What sky package do you have to get with your subscription?

icdg · 21-07-2009 11:24PM

If they keep going as they are - there doesn't appear to be a lot of incentive for cable customers to subscribe to Setanta Sports 1. Any thoughts....?

Skyhater · 21-07-2009 11:32PM

icdg wrote: »

If they keep going as they are - there doesn't appear to be a lot of incentive for cable customers to subscribe to Setanta Sports 1. Any thoughts....?

They would need to drastically reduce the price... (€18/month is a joke for Setanta Sports 1, Racing UK, ESPN America, Chelsea TV and Liverpool TV).
.... OR include the new ESPN channel in their pack?

Elmo · 21-07-2009 11:32PM

icdg wrote: »

If they keep going as they are - there doesn't appear to be a lot of incentive for cable customers to subscribe to Setanta Sports 1. Any thoughts....?

I think they should close down SS1. How much is the sub for SS1 on UPC?

themont85 · 21-07-2009 11:42PM

Elmo wrote: »

I really should stop using FTA or FTV. Just on the basic package. What sports channels are currently available on the Sky digital basic package? It would save Setanta. But I suppose UPC may not want it to go on the basic sky digi pack especially if they plan to invest in Setanta.

Won't happen. Sky don't want sports channels be to free to air or even on basic. They can't stop a cheap rights channel like Eurosport or Motors TV been FTA so they wanted them in their 'News and Events' pack where at least they can make a bit more money and stop it been FTA and be a 'disincentive' to subscribe to their premium sports channels. SS would be a different animal to Eurosport in that they have the PL. Setanta when they launched here first talked of going on the basic Sky and NTL and suprise suprise themselves and SKy couldn't agree a deal. Sky don't want them to be free or even on basic on their platform. Sky hate free to air channels like E4. They can tolerate a non premium rights channel like Eurosport being on one of their packages and making a bit more money for it, but a channel providing Premier League football on their EPG, not a hope.

Setanta are making money through Setanta Ireland. I wouldn't be suprised if Setanta 1 goes on NTL basic or is closed completely due to a lack of rights.

Elmo · 21-07-2009 11:45PM

I wouldn't have thought that EuroSport was all that cheap. Sky must hate them being FTA.

Mossy Monk · 22-07-2009 02:15AM

Elmo wrote: »

I wouldn't have thought that EuroSport was all that cheap. Sky must hate them being FTA.

Eurosport are not FTA. Unless you are on about the German language version on Astra 1.

Elmo · 22-07-2009 10:24AM

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Eurosport are not FTA. Unless you are on about the German language version on Astra 1.

Isn't all that cheap sorry!

But EuroSport is on the Sky basic package of channels?

Mossy Monk · 22-07-2009 11:41AM

Yes it is but it is encrypted.

themont85 · 22-07-2009 06:24PM

Elmo wrote: »

Isn't all that cheap sorry!

But EuroSport is on the Sky basic package of channels?

It is on the 'News and Events' Package which makes it subscription so they make a few cents I'd imagine of every person who gets this pack, I would imagine that would be a majority of Sky customers.

The point is SKy prefer them there and would offer them a good deal to be like that rather than go FTA and be on Freeview which would damage them. FTA sport channels damage Sky sports is the logic. I doubt they would make a deal with Setanta to go into this pack because they have PL football. They want them to be as premium as possible. ANd for Setanta they're getting a good deal from NTL already who don't care about the premium nature because they aren't running a sports channel and they need something to lure subs given that they have inferior technology to the Sky platform.

I'd imagine 'British' Eurosport is cheap enough to run. Very little home produced content. Certainly I don't know when they have ever been a host broadcaster, I'd imagine they have on the continent but not here. The rights would be cheap. Their coverage of cycling is for the whole year and as a result I reckon they get Le Tour for a good price as they promote the sport all year round. Ditto for tennis and their Slams like the French. For years they showed the FIFA WOrld Cup probably because FIFA liked the fact that they give coverage of the U16 upwards competition. I reckon Eurosport is a nice little earner over here.

Elmo · 22-07-2009 10:27PM

I am suggesting that Setanta become part of the News and Events package.

Being a non sky user I assume that they call their basic package the News and Events package.

icdg · 22-07-2009 10:40PM

Elmo wrote: »

I am suggesting that Setanta become part of the News and Events package.

Being a non sky user I assume that they call their basic package the News and Events package.

Sky don't have a basic pack any more, once upon a time there was the Value Pack but they restructured their packages in 2005 or thereabouts and now you pick up to six themed packs, of which News and Events is one. All ROI subscribers get the "Bonus Mix" which gives you the Irish terrestrials, BBC One, BBC Two, and Channel 4's channels.

Officially, the Setanta Sports Pack (which is Setanta Sports 1, Racing UK, Chelsea TV, and Liverpool TV - and ESPN America for however long it lasts) is €18 p/m on UPC, which is shockly outragous for whats left, unless you are a massive Chelsea or Liverpool fan.

byte · 22-07-2009 10:44PM

And currently, LFC TV is running FTA on satellite.

If Setanta Ireland did become part of News and Events Mix on Sky, it'd be interesting...

Setanta are not very forthcoming with price/structure changes atm.

Elmo · 23-07-2009 12:40AM

icdg wrote: »

All ROI subscribers get the "Bonus Mix" which gives you the Irish terrestrials, BBC One, BBC Two, and Channel 4's channels.

Grand so the "Bonus Mix" should have Setanta Sports in the future. Is 3E not on the Bonus mix?

themont85 · 23-07-2009 12:48AM

Elmo wrote: »

I am suggesting that Setanta become part of the News and Events package.

Being a non sky user I assume that they call their basic package the News and Events package.

Again I don't think it will happen. Its not in Sky's interest. Its their discretion as to what to carry if you aren't FTA. Setanta can't just go 'We want to join that package or another'. They have to negotiate a fee to do so. I doubt Sky offer them an attractive rate at all and NTL are probably giving them a nice fee for been on basic, certainly the fact that they pull a profit here would indicate the deal isn't bad for them atm. NTL wouldn't be inclinded to keep it at such a level if their competition in Sky have the exact same deal basically. They tried previousely to to a deal when they launched in 2005 and it didn't happen, I'd be suprised if it happens now tbh.

As an aside, I'll be interested as to what happens when DTT launches here and analogue goes. Been FTA then could be very attractive to them as they could bid for Six Nations/Irish soccer games ect and have a bigger reach than previousely.

Mossy Monk · 23-07-2009 01:52AM

Elmo wrote: »

Grand so the "Bonus Mix" should have Setanta Sports in the future. Is 3E not on the Bonus mix?

No. 3e is Variety.

Elmo · 23-07-2009 11:05AM

themont85 wrote: »

As an aside, I'll be interested as to what happens when DTT launches here and analogue goes. Been FTA then could be very attractive to them as they could bid for Six Nations/Irish soccer games ect and have a bigger reach than previousely.

I have been saying this for a while. Or they could remain payTV and unencrypt when they need to be FTA.

No. 3e is Variety.

Anyone know how many Irish subscribers subscribe to each additional package? Do sky provide this information?

Mossy Monk · 23-07-2009 03:29PM

I'd say the vast majority would have all the packages (excluding premium). Of all the people I kniow with Sky only 3 (that I can think of) don't.

byte · 23-07-2009 09:25PM

In my experience, Variety Mix is by far the most popular, with Knowledge Mix coming in second.

Elmo · 24-07-2009 10:49AM

byte wrote: »

In my experience, Variety Mix is by far the most popular, with Knowledge Mix coming in second.

Would the bonus mix not be the most popular

Scallion 'ater · 24-07-2009 10:05PM

Got an e mail from Setanta telling me my new subscription rate from August will be €16.99 !!!

Are they for real? I am currently on a reduced rate of a fiver til September but I won't be paying €17 after that just to watch a 3pm game on Saturday.

channelsurfer · 24-07-2009 10:16PM

Scallion 'ater wrote: »

Got an e mail from Setanta telling me my new subscription rate from August will be €16.99 !!!

Are they for real? I am currently on a reduced rate of a fiver til September but I won't be paying €17 after that just to watch a 3pm game on Saturday.

absolute business suicide on behalf of setanta to charge that amount.... ok fair enough they might be relying on consumer inertia and not many cancelling but if espn are charging 12euro as reported then setanta will be in big trouble.

Sports Rights: English Premier League 2010/1 to 2012/3

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