What does FSI buying Setanta get them? Much of Setanta's content is sub-licensed from them already. Their other properties are nice but not exactly must haves.
Who know what the deal will be. Fox may not even be buying Setanta outright. Setanta has been a financial mess since it's start from what I've heard so I could imagine they can't afford to pay FOX anymore for the EPL and it's other sub-licensed programs and they may be giving up there properties in exchange for being released from it's contracts? I am not an insider, but I would imagine it's something along those lines, and FOX is not exactly breaking the bank to get Setanta.
FSI buying Setanta Sports USA makes NO SENSE to me. Setanta Sports USA the channel has NEVER come anywhere close to the breakeven point. FSI has already repossessed the sublicensed EPL and UEFA CL U.S. video rights from Setanta Sports North America Limited.
Looks like this may be the official death of Setanta US. Their twitter account has gone silent, there was a comment on the EPL Talk article that their Prem rights ran out in Jan, not in May (the Arsenal - Bolton match was actually rescheduled from August, I think) and on this thread it's suggested that the rest of their content will be sold to a PPV distributor. Hope the EPL/FA Cup/Carling Cup games trickle down to DirecTV or it'll be back to iraqgoals for me.
Very important note: Setanta Canada is NOT affected by these developments. They are completely separate from the USA group and actually making money. I know how the news of Setanta's UK problems caused a lot of confusion this summer on this side of the ocean. Those problems actually helped me understand the different brands and separation that exists between the entities as I contacted people within the Setanta groups. Just want to reiterate that for Setanta Canada - its business as usual. As far as the "acquiring", I think Foxboro is probably closest to the truth on this issue. If FOX acquires Setanta USA, it won't be for more than $1. It's more a "takeover" in lieu of payments. What is worrisome is the fact that all mention of the Premiership has been taken off the Setanta USA website. If FOX is truly taking over, why not have the network continue its existance to at least have an outlet for the overflow of games. Perhaps ESPN will broaden its reach into the EPL due to this deal. Perhaps, as mentioned by others, a FSC2 gets created. But as a $15 per month channel?? Doesn't sound likely. The more I think about it, more possibilties pop up. Best to sit back and see what happens by the weekend and beyond. Just hope we fans don't get the short end of the stick (ie less coverage and/or higher fees). SA
Simple. Just like when Comcast bought TechTV and "merged" it with G4, they gained an instant audience. Then they set about destroying TechTV and it's loyal followers. New Viewers, and competition eliminated.
this is your opportunity to show us how much you appreciate soccer.... Wishful thinking would be to create ESPN Worldwide + inlcuding the African Nations Cup through a EuroSport feed then i woke up
So if Fox accquires Setanta Sports USA, will it still be a subriscription channel? I just was scanning my DirecTv guide and it would be nice to be able to watch MUTV as well as the other EPL matches that are not available on FSC.
I dont see ESPN a factor here at all.. except for ESPN360.. who I think will take all but the Premiership and Champions League and put it up on their internet channel... more championship and carling cup games coming your way.. via 360.. DirecTv or FSC2 is all i can see as hope for seeing the additional Premiership games and Champions league matches... i cant see Fox sublicensing the games back to ESPN.. Well we have a couple of days to see how this is going to play out.. im sure Fox will make a decision rapidly to maximize any money they can get out of the rights... GolTv still the darkhorse... can they whip up some cash to get some of these matches?... my gut feeling this will be FSC2 or the reemergence of Fox Sports World.... at a premium..$8.00 month.. Cantona---
lol. No matter where the games end up, it seems this is going to be an interesting week indeed. I wonder who will be keeping Setanta and tuning into the live Championship game on Saturday.
As long as they have the exclusive rights to Ligue 1, I will be keeping my Setanta subscription as long as it's still around.
That merger also killed there international station I can still watch X-Play and Attack of the Show as they have found there way onto another channel although I would rather not. ATOS is just so poor compared to what Screensavers use to be. The Lab with Leo/Call for Help also made its way back here although the Canadian show got axed in 2007.
I sorely miss The Screensavers....at least we have TWiT to carry on the tradition....it's not the same as TV, but it's better than nothing.
You can add ATT U-Verse. I hope this leads to FSI subing the digital rights to ESPN360, or launching a Fox equlivant.
So as i slept, Setanta was going down the drain. Hopefully ESPN or GOLTV pick up something out of this.
Somebody is working hard at Setanta USA. Website already updated for Stoke v Fulham match to be live (Carling Cup match postponed) and "Barclays Premier League" and "UEFA Champions League" added back to main page description. It will be a very interesting next couple of days..... SA