Setanta Sports 1 & 2

Setanta Sports 1
Setanta Sports logo
Launched 2004
Owned by Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Ltd
Slogan Setanta is Sport / The new home of Boxing
Country Ireland and Northern Ireland
Sister channel(s) Setanta Ireland
Website http://www.setanta.com/ie
Availability
Satellite
Sky Ireland Channel 424
Cable
UPC Ireland Channel 406

Setanta Sports 1 is a subscription based sports channel in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland under a new licensing agreement between the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the newly formed company Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Ltd replacing Setanta Sports Ireland Ltd.[1]

The channel carries coverage of association football (including top-flight European leagues and UEFA Europa League), boxing, golf, motorsport, and coverage of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

History

  • Setanta Sports 1 was launched in 2004 by Setanta Sports Ireland Ltd, shortly after Setanta's UK operations (Setanta Sports GB) launched Setanta Sports 2.
  • Setanta Sports 1 and Setanta Sports 2 ceased broadcasting in Great Britain on 23 June 2009[2]
  • Setanta Sports 1 continues to air in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, though Setanta Sports 2 has since ceased operating.
  • On 27 July 2009 under a new licensing agreement between the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the newly formed company Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Ltd replacing Setanta Sports Ireland Ltd.[1] Setanta Sports Ireland and Setanta Sports 1 continue to be offered to audiences in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
↑Jump back a section

New ownership

As of 27 July 2009 the ownership structure of Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Limited (previously Setanta Sports Ireland Ltd) has changed. Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Limited is now co-owned by Gaiety Investments (60% share) with the remaining 40% share made up by Sabloss Limited. The main shareholders in Sabloss are Michael O’Rourke, Leonard Ryan and Mark O’Meara. Sabloss has also purchased 100% of the shares in Setanta Sports North America Limited. Both Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Limited and Setanta Sports North America Limited are licenced by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.[1]

↑Jump back a section

Broadcast rights

Most of these air on both Setanta Ireland and Setanta Sports 1 and are shared between the two channels. In some instances (largely football coverage) Setanta only possess Republic of Ireland rights, during such programming the channel is unavailable in Northern Ireland. Conversely, live coverage of GAA Championship matches is available only in Northern Ireland and not the Republic.

Club football

International football

  • Friendly matches, typically on a once-off basis

Gaelic Athletic Association

Rugby Union

Rugby League

Other programming

Setanta's major in-house programme is The Sports Show (formerly The Hub) which airs daily. It also simulcasts the radio show Off The Ball from Newstalk.

↑Jump back a section

Setanta Sports Cup

Setanta is the sponsor of the Setanta Sports Cup, an annual soccer tournament featuring teams from the League of Ireland and Irish Football League. The top 4 teams from each league are drawn into a 4 team group with 2 teams from each league. In the group stages, each team plays each other 2 times (home and away) and the top 2 qualify for the semi-final. The semi-finals are played at Windsor Park, Belfast and Turners Cross, Cork. The Final is played at Tolka Park, Dublin. It also sponsored the Conference League Cup, called the Setanta Shield.

↑Jump back a section

Availability

Setanta Sports 1 is available in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland on Sky. Additionally, it is available in the Republic of Ireland on UPC Ireland, Magnet Networks, Smartvision, SCTV Digital and Homevision.

Setanta Sports 1 was previously available on all major UK digital television platforms including Sky, Virgin Media and BT Vision.

  • On digital terrestrial television, Setanta Sports 1 was available as a standalone subscription channel, available to viewers with a compatible "Freeview" receiver. These include set-top boxes with a card slot, and IDTVs with a CAM. The channel broadcasts between 12:00 and 03:00
  • BT Vision offered the version of Setanta Sports 1 carried on DTT as part of the BT Vision Sport package, which combines the channel with a broadband on-demand highlights service
  • The entire Setanta Sports family of channels was available via satellite on Sky
  • Virgin Media offered entire Setanta Sports family of channels bar AH TV, Arsenal Replay and Setanta Commercial. Channels were available either as a part of the XL pack or as a separate subscription package
↑Jump back a section

References

  1. ^ a b c BCI approves ownership changes at Setanta and signs 2 new Content Contracts Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, 28 July 2009
  2. ^ Setanta goes off air in Great Britain Digital Spy, 23 June 2009
↑Jump back a section
Last modified on 25 January 2013, at 16:51