UEFA Cup rights question

[danielmak]

I'm wondering if someone can explain the rights to UEFA Cup games in the US. It seems odd that Setanta USA doesn't run games on delay that it features via Setanta Premium. I understand that the CL games shown on Setanta Premium can't be shown on delay on Setanta USA because ESPN has those rights but it doesn't seem as if the UEFA Cup rights for early rounds are held by someone else. I would think that some of the matches that feature teams that play in leagues whose rights are held by Setanta (e.g., Rangers and PSG) would show on delay. Thanks in advance for any insights.

[DV1882]

Same thing with WorldsportHD they had UEFA Cup games last year, but this year they were not included in the new contract.

[danielmak]

I sent the same question to Setanta (usually networks won't answer questions about rights issues so I figured a more starightforward answer would appear on this forum). They wrote back today and said that it has to do with available slots for programming. If they have slots then they will run the games. It looks like they will show a few UEFA Cup matches next week. Take care.

[HDSports]

I think WorldsportHD got the UEFA Cup contest through GOLTV when they had the rights, which is why they are no longer on that channel. Setanta acquired the early round UEFA package this year, but shows only a fraction of the contests that GOLTV used to show.

FSC and Setanta have now won rights for the two packages that include the quarterfinals, semifinals and final. Fox will show 3 of the 4 quarterfinals (the other will be on Setanta), both semifinals and the final.

The UEFA Super Cup is also a part of the package awarded.