Setanta to launch new channel?

[Father Ted]

This from their website:

"Setanta's Residential Channel

Later this year Setanta intends to launch a residential channel focusing on affordable presentations of soccer and rugby. Both live and delayed games will be available. It will cost roughly $20 per month, or be part of a Sportpack, much as Fox Sports World is. This should greatly increase the availability of rugby in North America and, hopefully, make the hard core rugby fan very happy..."

http://www.setanta.com/sport/RugbyWorldCup03.htm

[da_cfo]

Originally posted by Father Ted
This from their website:

"Setanta's Residential Channel

Later this year Setanta intends to launch a residential channel focusing on affordable presentations of soccer and rugby. Both live and delayed games will be available. It will cost roughly $20 per month, or be part of a Sportpack, much as Fox Sports World is. This should greatly increase the availability of rugby in North America and, hopefully, make the hard core rugby fan very happy..."

http://www.setanta.com/sport/RugbyWorldCup03.htm

That will make things very interesting.

Setanta has the option of making the following products available on the new channel:

1. A TON of UEFA Cup matches

2. English FA Cup matches from 3rd round through the final.

3. English League Cup matches.

The channel will have to be a $20/month premium channel in order for the channel to be profitable.

I can't see the channel be part of the DirecTV sports pack, which costs $12/month.

[nyrmetros]

I can't afford that... :(

[superdave]

Originally posted by da_cfo
The channel will have to be a $20/month premium channel in order for the channel to be profitable.

I can't see the channel be part of the DirecTV sports pack, which costs $12/month.
Oliver, I'm guessing that you're basing that on the costs for launching the channel vs. the revenues, right? I know it's simplistic to say, hey, they've already paid for the games, so it's an easy way to make a profit.

What do you think is a realistic estimate of the costs of launching the channel, and the monthly ongoing costs?

[Father Ted]

The question that Setanta has to figure out is whether they can make more money off subscribers to this new channel than they do from bars and clubs. The last time I went to watch a game at a Setanta bar cost me a $20 cover charge.

Also I wonder if these bars and clubs who have invested in satelite dishes will still get some exclusive events. Afterall, they will be losing revenue on early Saturday mornings...

[kevruth]

I'd have no problem paying the $20 per month if it were all soccer. I have no use for rugby.

While $20 per month sounds like a lot, it is still cheaper than paying $20 per match for their damn PPV stuff.

If Setanta would go through with this then my attitude toward them would definitely change.

[TexasSoccerFan]

This would be very, very cool as i like both soccer and rugby a whole lot.

Not to be too picky, but would the channel also have the CL games of Greek, Turkish and English teams?

[Noonan]

I'm guessing the stuff on the residential channel would not be the high profile stuff but just the games that aren't attractive enough for the bars to buy. Probably a lot of UEFA cup games involving teams from Macedonia, Poland, etc. along with a 1 week delay on anything shown in a bar.

Just a guess.

[Cantona]

$20.00 for the Setanta library... a bargain.. easy...

these guys hold the trump card for ALL the football channels profitability in the U.S., the addition of GOLTV along with FSW.. really puts the cat amongst the pigeons....

who benefits... us!

it proves football is a viable property.. people want to see it.. and pay for it if needed...


Cantona---

[nyrmetros]

I'm sure the bars and pubs won;t be happy about this....