Shows you how much I've paid attention. I suspect, however, if they ever do tell us anything it will be the same type of "announcement". Though we should expect fair and open treatment we will never get from these people. They don't want to start a wholesale bailout by subscribers. Unfortunately, this reminds me exactly of the last floundering days of ITVN----another one of my great subscription choices, only there I was month-to-month. I'm paid up with Setanta till December. Obviously, age and experience haven't taught me a damn thing.
I never bitched: I thought it was very reasonable and if Setanta guaranteed the same content it was providing up until last week, I would continue to pay gladly.
Sorry to hear that. When Setanta started wobbling in the UK, I switched to monthly when my subscription renewal came up (even though I know they're not technically related). Glad I did. I've never minded paying $15 a month, since they've had so much content that I like. It'll be sad to see them go - but that's bidniss for you.
Hull v Chelsea's been postponed due to the weather - is it possible ESPN picks up a different game on Saturday? Say ... Arsenal v Everton?
Well, thank goodness I'm also a rugby fan. As long as Setanta-i stays "on" I'll get something enjoyable for my money. Maybe I'll check out Championship soccer, assuming they keep that. However, it's not difficult to read the tea leaves here. No EPL means lost subscriptions, means less income, means------
Boro-Swansea on Saturday is postponed a day in advance, so it seems unlikely there will be any football this weekend in England.
"Bidniss" I love it!! I agree the $15 is well worth it. When Fox Soccer was showing crappy infomercials, Setanta could be showing live Russian League soccer or a good replay of a game. I am also a huge fan of French Soccer. If nothing fills the void of Setanta I will be very upset.
Setanta Sports USA has updated its schedule website to replace Crystal Palace-Bristol City (which was postponed due to a frozen pitch) with... ... Derby County vs Scunthorpe United. That should convince you that Setanta Sports North America Limited has no intention of paying the $2+ million for the EPL U.S. video sublicense from FOX Sports International for the rest of the 2009-2010 EPL season.
FSC has also updated their schedule, but not to replace the Wigan/Villa game with the Arsenal/Everton game, but to replace the postponed Liverpool/Spurs game
So what does this mean in the long term? As far as still being able to show 2-3 live EPL games each weekend (Setanta, that is).
It means, as someone pointed out in another thread, that both Setanta USA and ESPN no longer have any EPL rights in the USA, until they negotiate directly with Fox Sports.
I don't believe that is correct. ESPN's contract is with Fox and is still good. ESPN has nothing to do with Setanta.
With all the cancellations, freeze ups, lock downs, etc. how on earth did West Brom and Forest play today? I watched the match live on Setanta-i.
That person was wrong. During the first week of August, FSI repossessed the video rights in the U.S. and Caribbean to 48 matches for the 2009-2010 season from Setanta Sports North America. FSI then executed two sublicensing agreements with ESPN, Inc. for the TV rights in the U.S. and Caribbean to 48 EPL matches in the 2009-2010 season last August. The first agreement was for the Caribbean region where the 48 matches now air on ESPN Caribbean. The 2nd agreement was for the U.S. market where the 48 matches air on ESPN2 U.S.
Pitches with undersoil heating are playable despite the snow and ice. The problem: the clubs have to convince the local police to work in icy conditions in order to keep the supporters from getting into trouble when they travel to and from the stadiums. If the Bobbies don't want to work in the snow and ice, then a particular match has to be called off for the "safety" of the travelling supporters.
very interesting stuff I would love to know what has happened behind the scenes. There is a few possibilities but time will tell what just happened.
Don't know yet whether the deal that got done on Friday afternoon (U.S. Time) to put Arsenal-Everton and West Ham-Wolves back on Setanta Sports USA (in the U.S. and Caribbean) is for this weekend only, or if a more comprehensive "acquisition/asset purchase" deal between FSI and Setanta Sports North America is as close to getting done as one trade publication is reporting: http://www.multichannel.com/article/443249-Fox_Soccer_Nearing_Deal_For_Setanta_Sports_USA.php
What do you mean "nothing"? There is something going on behind the scenes. Lawyers, contracts, and lots of portraits of Mr. Franklin are in play. It should be obvious even to the most ignorant of idiots by now that there is no future (beyond May 2010) for the Setanta Sports USA TV channel business within the Setanta Sports North America Limited corporate entity. The only drama left: whether FSI will purchase the channel or will simply repossess the EPL and UEFA CL sublicenses and let the channel die. I still don't believe that purchasing the channel makes any sense for FSI. Of course, one Mr. R. Murdoch will eventually make that decision.