Virgin Media and Setanta Sports have announced plans to launch a free-to-air sports news channel. The move had been widely anticipated. Setanta Sports News will be available exclusively to the cablenet’s three million subscribers, effectively replacing Sky Sports News and is expected to launch in the next few weeks.
Setanta Sports co-founder Michael O’Rourke described the channel as one with genuine appeal to real sports fans. “Setanta Sports News will engage directly with fans on their level and bring them stories and issues that really matter to them. It will be a powerful new voice in sports news. With a full spectrum of live location reports, interviews, studio-based experts and discussion shows.”
In addition, a new sports website will combine videoclips with the latest sports news. Virgin has secured rights to clips from both the Premiership and the Football League for the site that will be available on all ISPs.
Earlier this week Virgin announced that Setanta’s hitherto premium sports channels would be available as part of the cablenet’s XL basic package.
About Julian Clover
"In an industry that experiences rapid change and often a confusing subsequent
constant supply of news, it is often refreshing to read an insightful perspective. Broadband
TV News and its editorial team regularly provide a context and
helpful analysis to breaking news.”
Broadband TV News is the must-read publication for those working in the Business of the Multiscreen Television. We deliver news, insight and data direct to your desktop. As well as our constantly updated website you can sign-up to our Daily and Weekly email bulletins. 
Connected TV Forecasts NEW REPORT. The number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 551 million by 2016 for the 40 countries covered in this report from Digital TV Research, up from 124 million at end-2010. The report states that this translates to 20% of global TV sets by 2016, up from only 6% at end-2010. Published in November 2011, this 83-page PDF report is the most geographically comprehensive to ever be published.