Setanta (Off Air) + RUK + ESPN

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Setanta Sports Great Britain
Important Customer Message
Setanta Sports Customers from England, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands, please be advised that it is with great regret that Setanta GB is no longer trading.
Setanta Sports is still operating in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland only. Customers from ROI and NI should go to http://www.setanta.com/ie for more information.
Setanta Sport Limited
Setanta Transmissions (UK) Limited
Setanta Sports S.a.r.l
(All In Administration)
(together "the Companies")
On 23 June 2009, Neville Kahn, Lee Manning and Nick Edwards were appointed Joint Administrators of the Companies and now manage the affairs, business and property of Setanta Sport Limited and Setanta Transmissions (UK) Limited and Setanta Sports S.a.r.l.. The Joint Administrators contract as agents of the Companies and without personal liability
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Racing UK to go stand-alone

Click Here for Frequently asked Questions and Answers

Leading horse racing television channel Racing UK (RUK) today announced it will become a stand-alone channel again following the demise of Setanta.

RUK aims to continue broadcasting on Sky channel 432 but will move to a new EPG number if necessary. The price point will revert to its 2004 launch price of £20 a month but this will include the £9.99 monthly subscription to Racing UK's on-line services. Subscribers will also continue to benefit from £600 worth of free race day tickets per year and members' club packs.

Racing UK Chairman Will Wyatt said: "We enjoyed a good relationship with Setanta sinceAugust 2006, and the current situation at Setanta is very unfortunate. Racing UK flourished as a stand-alone channel before Setanta, and now we have a stronger financial base and an even better relationship with our customers. Racing UK is sound, safe and assured of its future."

Racing UK will be in contact shortly with its 55,000 residential subscribers on how to re-subscribe directly. There will be no joining fee and the channel will be free to air (for all existing subscribers) while this happens.

All current broadband subscriptions and the 2,350 pubs which subscribe to Racing UK will be unaffected. The channel is in discussions with Virgin Media to continue supplying cable customers.

Monthly subscribers should not lose out through the closure/administration of Setanta and annual subscribers will get the channel free until their next annual renewal date.

Commercial director Nick Mills explained: "It is a significant investment for Racing UK but we want to stand by our most loyal subscribers and didn't want them to have to pay again to watch the channel."
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UK TELEVISION RIGHTS
ESPN snaps up Premier League TV packages
By Soccernet staff
June 22, 2009
ESPN has won the rights to broadcast 46 live Premier League matches in the United Kingdom for the 2009-10 season, and has also been awarded a contract for the 2010-13 seasons.

The sports broadcaster, parent company of Soccernet, picked up both 23-match packages on offer in Monday's auction. ESPN's 46 live games will be split between Saturday evenings and Monday nights in the coming season. For the three seasons from 2010-11 to 2012-13 ESPN has the rights to a single package of 23 matches previously awarded to Setanta.
The Premier League ended its association with Setanta on Friday after it failed to meet a final deadline over a £30m payment which had been due this month. Setanta was also stripped of its Scottish Premier League contract on Monday.
"We are clearly delighted that our bid for exclusive media rights to the Barclays Premier League matches in the UK has been successful," said Lynne Frank, ESPN Managing Director in Europe, Middle East and Africa. "This is a huge step for our business, and we look forward to working with the Premier League, football clubs and distributors to bring UK sports fans all the excitement they expect in Premier League football."
"Premier League football is one of the world's most sought after sports properties, and we are very excited to be expanding our business in the UK with England's top football product," said Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, ESPN International. "This move demonstrates our commitment to British sports fans and our ongoing commitment to delivering football to fans around the world across a variety of media."
Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "The Premier League is extremely pleased to have added ESPN as a UK rights holder. They have a formidable worldwide reputation and experience in sports and I am sure we will enjoy a long and fruitful relationship with them."
ESPN plans to make its Barclays Premier League coverage widely available across multiple pay-TV platforms. As a first step to this distribution strategy, ESPN has reached an agreement for its coverage to be retailed by Sky to residential and commercial customers.
• For further information,
ESPN is pleased to announce that it will broadcast a selection of games from the 2009/10 – 12/13 Premier League seasons LIVE and in HD.
To register your interest in subscribing to ESPN please contact: