View Full Version : Setanta Interview on World Soccer Daily
kevruth
26 May 2006, 02:48 PM
Yesterday, World Soccer Daily had an interview with Shane O'Roarke, the president of Setanta North America. He provided some insight into the future of things with the Setanta Sports Channel.
First off, negotiations are ongoing with Dish Network. They've offered almost the exact same package that DirecTV has. Setanta doesn't know what Dish's problem is (we know that Dish wanted exclusivity like they had with GolTV for the first year). He did say that he expects Dish to pickup the channel within the next six months but it is unlikely that that will happen in time for the World Cup.
DirecTV and Setanta are really amazed at the number of subscribers. DirecTV has already met their two-year goal within the first year. This has even floored Setanta. Obviously, Dish is really missing out based on that information.
The big news was that Setanta and Fox are about to make a big announcement within the next two weeks. Mr. O'Roarke claims that this deal will make Setanta Sports THE soccer channel above the others. I wonder if Fox is subleasing some of their EPL matches. We will have to wait to see what will happen.
Finally, when asked if they plan on bidding for the North American EPL rights after they expire next season, Setanta will be a bidder, but will be looking for partners.
DAGSports
26 May 2006, 03:30 PM
Has to be an EPL package- and it might well be the PPV games.
And I no longer have any doubt that Setanta and FOX will bid jointly for the EPL rights next year.
Elisa Uranga
26 May 2006, 05:23 PM
Yea heard the same type of interview on the 2Gs last week. The announcement should be interesting...
drt2k3
29 May 2006, 01:05 AM
would the ppv games be on setanta while the others remain on fsc? if so that would have to please a lot of soccer fans who would no longer have to buy both, and it would really increase setanta's worth
ChicagoTom
30 May 2006, 11:29 AM
Excellent post KevRuth! I was curious as to where things stood with Dish Network. I just sent Dish an email about getting this channel added soon.
I am very curious as to what the announcement will be with the Premiership and the TV rights. I am assuming it will be yet another step in the right direction and give us the fans more to watch. At least that is what I hope.
Thanks again for the info!
kevruth
30 May 2006, 01:02 PM
If the PPV EPL matches would be moving to Setanta then you would think Dish Network would have to add the channel since it would be without PPV/EPL subscription revenue.
ChicagoTom
31 May 2006, 08:46 AM
KevRuth, if you hear any more about this, please let me know. Just this morning I received the typical company email from Dish saying they were trying hard to get the channel, but at present time could not guarantee Dish would ever get it. I hate these company emails that are cut and pasted.
Thanks!
joebloe888
31 May 2006, 03:34 PM
If the PPV EPL matches would be moving to Setanta then you would think Dish Network would have to add the channel since it would be without PPV/EPL subscription revenue.
Getting EPL, if it were to happen, would be the one leverage that Setanta will have against DISH, which has had its run-ins with Setanta over the years.
This would be especially true if EPL were to disappear from PPV entirely in 2006-2007.
(Again, nothing has been announced yet so everything is still speculation at this point.)
EchoStar/DISH founder "Cheap" Charlie Ergen is notorious for 1) picking fights against programming providers, and 2) extracting exclusivity periods and equity stakes from startup programming providers in exchange for carriage.
EchoStar cashed out BIG when CSTV was sold to CBS Corp.
ChicagoTom
01 Jun 2006, 09:34 AM
Starting on Tuesday, May 30th, I am going to send an email to Dish Netwrok everyday until Setanta is part of the programming.
I agree with JoeBloe88 about Ergen always quaralling with channels about programming. Whether it be OLN, or the local Comcast Sports here in Chicago about a year and a half ago, Ergen seems to forget about the customers rather than his pocketbook.
It is interesting how DirecTV never has any issues, or at least ones I hear about, whereas Dish always seems to hit snags along the way.
NY gooner
02 Jun 2006, 11:31 PM
looks like setanta will be around alot longer than WSD SC and NG got canned from the fox network and FFF has been cancelled, You reap what you sow, They bash everything U.S. and its time to kick them outta dodge. Their show is not football related anymore, just inuendos and gossip about there own indulgent lives. Time to stop tuning in to All That Shite!!!!!!!!!
MasterShake29
02 Jun 2006, 11:57 PM
FOX Football Friday and World Soccer Daily are separate entities. FOX has nothing to do with WSD beyond being an advertiser.
NY gooner
03 Jun 2006, 06:46 PM
WRONG!!!!!!!:mad:
theworm2345
03 Jun 2006, 06:51 PM
HOORAY!!! I love this channel :D
ONLY $11.99 A MONTH!!!!!
HDSports
04 Jun 2006, 12:24 AM
From what I saw of FSC's weekly schedule going into next season, there seem to be no 7:30 games on, but there are LIVE matches shown at 10 am and 12 pm, as well as a taped match at 3pm. Also a LIVE Sunday EPL match at 11am Sunday. It seems that Setanta will get the early games (Sat 7:30 and Sun 8:30) plus, they probably will broadcast a 10 am Saturday game as well.
HDSports
04 Jun 2006, 12:30 AM
looks like setanta will be around alot longer than WSD SC and NG got canned from the fox network and FFF has been cancelled, !
Do you have a resource reporting on the cancellation of FFF, or are you just assuming it because it went off for the summer? The FSC lineup has it on the schedule for Fridays at 11 pm when the EPL season starts again (They are picking up USL and later college games on Fridays at 8, so they pushed it back to the later time).
MasterShake29
04 Jun 2006, 08:31 AM
From what I saw of FSC's weekly schedule going into next season, there seem to be no 7:30 games on, but there are LIVE matches shown at 10 am and 12 pm, as well as a taped match at 3pm. Also a LIVE Sunday EPL match at 11am Sunday. It seems that Setanta will get the early games (Sat 7:30 and Sun 8:30) plus, they probably will broadcast a 10 am Saturday game as well.
If that's true that's awesome.
HDSports
04 Jun 2006, 07:01 PM
If that's true that's awesome.
Unless you do not currently have Setanta, and want to balance the soccer programming you receive with good quality HD programming. I've heard DirectTVs HD is compressed from several bloggers and therefore doesn't look very good. Can anybody substantiate or refute this? Also, does anyone get Setanta via Globecast? If so, how is it?
rangers00
04 Jun 2006, 07:34 PM
Unless you do not currently have Setanta, and want to balance the soccer programming you receive with good quality HD programming. I've heard DirectTVs HD is compressed from several bloggers and therefore doesn't look very good. Can anybody substantiate or refute this? Also, does anyone get Setanta via Globecast? If so, how is it?
Setanta from Globecast is the same channel as Setanta from DirecTV. It's also the same price. So what do you mean by "how is it"?
HDSports
04 Jun 2006, 10:23 PM
Setanta from Globecast is the same channel as Setanta from DirecTV. It's also the same price. So what do you mean by "how is it"?
Sorry, I guess I was not clear...I am not very familiar with Globecast...I was wondering what other costs are involved (I believe you have to pay for all antenna equipment, etc.). Once installed, is there a charge beyond the $11.99 for Setanta (in other words, is the cost per station ordered the only cost, or is there some additional monthly payment to Globecast?)
rangers00
04 Jun 2006, 10:45 PM
Sorry, I guess I was not clear...I am not very familiar with Globecast...I was wondering what other costs are involved (I believe you have to pay for all antenna equipment, etc.). Once installed, is there a charge beyond the $11.99 for Setanta (in other words, is the cost per station ordered the only cost, or is there some additional monthly payment to Globecast?)
Globecast is on Ku-band satellite, which needs a bigger dish (something like a 30"), as opposed to the DBS band (DirecTV and Dish Network), that you can get away with something as small as 18" (the single satellite dish, not the multi one).
Globecast is on the satellite IA-5. This satellite carries a lot of ethnic channels from Asia, Europe and Africa. Many of these channels are free-to-air. Thus you can catch lots of football games in many languagues. That would be a gem during World Cup qualifying time as well as the current time, when there are lots of World Cup warmups being played. I've had a Ku-dish and an MPEG2/DVB system pointing to IA-5 for 6 years, mainly for the purpose of following international football in languages I don't know. So I have the setup long before Setanta Sports USA was launched.
Once Setanta was launched, it's very trivial for me to get that channel. Just get a used receiver and run an extra cable from the 30" dish I've already setup, call up Globecast and, Bingo! I have Setanta Sports USA. I also had very good timing to acquire the used Globecast receiver. At that time, German TV was leaving Globecast to be on Dish Network exclusively. Lots of German TV subs were dumping Globecast receivers left and right. That's how I got mine cheap.
If you want a brand new setup, it would probably cost you $200-$300 from Globecast (recevier, smart card and 30" dish), and you also have to pay for installation. If you are a hobbyist (like I am), or want to dig deep into the satellite hobby, then you can get the channel thru' globecast without spending a lot extra.
If you are not interested in this hobby, or if you don't want to spend upfront money, my advice is to get Setanta thru' DirecTV.