Setanta Loses Premier League Rights

[Poncey]

Only heard a bit of it on the BBC News just now.

Can't find a URL right now.

Worrying news for boxing.

[Poncey]

Confirmed on Sky News.

[Poncey]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8109954.stm

[steve689]

I assume this means right from this moment? As in, the "business as usual" ads that have been pushing Premier League games and Champions League etc. is all null and void.

[watson748]

What would it cost if a TV company bought the rights to show every boxing match that may be of interest to UK fans? eg. if Setanta got every fight from UK shows like prizefighter to US and German cards including fighters like Khan, Haye, the Klits, Pavlik, Froch etc, etc, making them almost exclusively a boxing channel would they get enough subscribers? Taking into account that they would not need the massive money required for football or other expensive sports and a revised monthly subscription around £7.00 they may attract the casual boxing fan back full time.

In fact with the money they have in their bank accounts Ricky, Joe, Lennox and perhaps a little help from Golden Boy could buy Setanta and use this formula.

[Finch]

No chance in becoming a boxing channel.

Setanta will be going bust very very soon. A significant amount of subscribers will cancel their subscriptions this week as they have no football. Dramatic reduction in subscribers will result in lost revenue = Setanta going bust.

Bust by the end of the summer.

R.I.P the Bunce Boxing hour.

[Poncey]

I assume this means right from this moment? As in, the "business as usual" ads that have been pushing Premier League games and Champions League etc. is all null and void.

With immediate effect.

[Cannibal]

David Haye wasn't going to take a Wlad jab for free.

[Goz]

R.I.P the Bunce Boxing hour.

Didn't even last a year. Sad.

Those who moaned about it should hang their heads.

[stujones]

I don't think all is lost yet... depends if this invester pull outs. The league rights Setanta won will simply be up for bids again... nothing in the article suggests Setanta are not allowed to bid.

[Spud]

I don't think all is lost yet... depends if this invester pull outs. The league rights Setanta won will simply be up for bids again... nothing in the article suggests Setanta are not allowed to bid.

Stu - it has been reported the investor has pulled out due to the Premier League pull out from setanta

[stujones]

I don't think all is lost yet... depends if this invester pull outs. The league rights Setanta won will simply be up for bids again... nothing in the article suggests Setanta are not allowed to bid.

Stu - it has been reported the investor has pulled out due to the Premier League pull out from setanta

Oh - okay... wasn't there others reportedly interested.

[alexpaterson]

Well lets hope they get it sorted a lot of subscribers will have unsuscribed due to the Preimier League rights so they will make less money its getting worse and worse for Setanta lets hope they pull through as nobody on British TV has Boxing coverage like Setanta

[Spud]

I don't think all is lost yet... depends if this invester pull outs. The league rights Setanta won will simply be up for bids again... nothing in the article suggests Setanta are not allowed to bid.

Stu - it has been reported the investor has pulled out due to the Premier League pull out from setanta

Oh - okay... wasn't there others reportedly interested.

To be honest mate I hope so!!!

The good sign if I were to clutch at straws is - I read and was also told that if the Premier League pulled out, Setanta would go straight into administration as a firm has been on standby for the last few days - that hasn't happened - thus I am hoping something is going on in the background for the positive.

In addition another clutching at straws thought I had is without football and if and I know its a big if Setanta survive - then surely they need to keep hold of boxing as one of their flagship sports??

I am hoping Setanta survive - it seems Monday possibly Tuesday is the D Day - lets hope something is pulled together - I bloody hope it is!!!

[chris s]

I just can't see how they will be a viable investment without Premier League football. They aren't gonna hold on to 1.2 million subscribers without football.

Golf and the Prem League is awash with money, but it is a shame for boxing and particularly cash strapped Conference clubs and Scottish clubs and an even bigger pity for the people who will lose their jobs if they go.