Setanta taken off the air

The sports broadcaster Setanta, has gone into administration...

12:04 24 June 2009

Broadcaster Setanta Sports has been taken off the air after the company went into administratio.

Hundreds of jobs have been lost, including 200 people employed by Setanta in the UK and 950 more jobs may be at risk in call centres connected to the firm.

The pay-TV broadcaster collapsed after failing to sign up enough customers to afford the huge cost of buying sports rights.

They currently have the rights to 115 Premier League matches, which have been bought by Disney–ESPN.

Further rights have been reverted to the governing bodies who will auction them off.

Barbara Slater, the new head of sport at the BBC told The Daily Telegraph that the broadcaster is considering bidding for FA Cup games and England matches.

Setanta have said that it would not take any further payments from its customers.

However customers will not be able to claim back any subscriptions they have already paid.

Chairman of Setanta, Sir Robin Miller said: "This is a sad day for all concerned. Since its inspired inception a number of years ago, Setanta and its financial backers, have invested hundreds of millions of pounds buying UK and international sports rights.

"With the hard work and dedication of its staff, a pay-TV broadcaster was created which entertained people in three million homes with top-class sport.

"Unfortunately, in a difficult and highly competitive market, and despite strenuous efforts by the board and management, it has not been possible to find sufficient additional funds in the time available to ensure its survival."