Setanta Sports News
| Country | Ireland United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Virgin Media Television & Setanta Sports |
Setanta Sports News was a television channel from Virgin Media Television and Setanta Sports. The channel launched on 29 November 2007.[2] The channel was a rolling 24-hour sports news channel using the strength of the Setanta Sports brand across the United Kingdom and Ireland . It was available to all Virgin Media customers and also free-to-view on satellite and online. The channel was seen as Virgin Media's rival to Sky Sports News which was removed from their platform on 1 March 2007 as their contract with British Sky Broadcasting had ended. However, when Virgin Media reinstated Sky Sports News onto their television platform, their Setanta rival remained an active channel.
It was announced on 12 September 2007 that ITN was appointed producer of Setanta Sports News.[3]
The channel was transmitted by Red Bee Media, who also play in the commercial breaks.
The channel closed at just before 6pm on Tuesday 23 June 2009, following financial difficulties.[4]
History
Setanta Sports News was launched on 29 November 2007 on the Virgin Media and Sky Digital platforms. The Virgin Media Television network had previously expressed their interest in running a sports news channel, after BSkyB removed Sky Sports News from ntl:Telewest's successor Virgin Media. Some media sources have claimed that Setanta News is intended to be in direct competition with BSkyB's Sky Sports News,[5] which has an average of around 0.6%. It was announced in the summer of 2007 that Virgin Media Television was to launch the new channel.[6]
On 1 September 2008, the channel was given a new look. The format was changed from 4:3 to Widescreen. Viewers could now see headlines along the length of the bottom of the screen, rather than across the top of the video section. There were other several minor changes, but not of particular importance.
Over the course of the remainder of the year, channel producers experimented with different format designs, including removing the side bar over midweek.
Closure
On 23 June 2009, it was announced Setanta Sports has been placed into administration after rescue talks designed to secure new funding collapsed. Setanta Sports News closed on the same day, at 18:00, with 60 staff made redundant.[7]
International coverage
From 1 January 2008, Setanta Sports News was rebroadcast live in one hour blocks on their domestic international stations in the Republic of Ireland (at 18:00 on Setanta Ireland), Australia and in the USA. In Australia, Setanta Sports News was shown daily live at 7am and 6pm EST (changing to 9am & 6pm EDT) and in the USA was shown live at 1am, 5pm and 10pm ET.
On air team
| Person | Position at Setanta | Current position(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Teale | Presenter | Newscaster, ITV London and ITV News |
| Lisa Knights | Presenter | Newscaster, Sky News |
| Andy Kerr | Presenter | Reporter, ITV Tyne Tees & Border |
| Kelly Cates | Presenter | Presenter for ESPN's Football Coverage |
| Rachel Brookes | Presenter | Reporter for Sky Sports News |
| Murray Dron | Presenter | News Correspondent, ITV London and ITV News |
| Charlotte Jackson | Presenter | Presenter for Sky Sports News |
| Rhodri Williams | Presenter | |
| Ali Douglas | Presenter | Presenter (Sky Sports - Scottish Football) |
| Ashley House | Presenter | Sports Presenter, Al Jazeera English |
| Mark McQuillan | Freelance Presenter | |
| Amelia Harris | Freelance Presenter | Sports Presenter, BBC News channel |
| Alexandra Hill | Freelance Presenter | Newscaster/News Correspondent, ITV London and ITV News |
| Jackie Kabler | Freelance Presenter | Lecturer |
| Sangeeta Kandola | Freelance Presenter | Newscaster/News Correspondent, ITV London and ITV News |
| Sue Thearle | Freelance Presenter | Newscaster/Sports Presenter, BBC News channel |
| Faye Barker | Freelance Presenter | Presents ITV News at 5:30 on ITV and Daybreak regional news for ITV1 London |
| Steve Clamp | Freelance Presenter | Newscaster/Sports Correspondent, ITV Central; newscaster for ITV London and ITV News |
| Steve Gaisford | Freelance Presenter | Runs online company |
| Chris Ford | Reporter | Reporter, ITV Tyne Tees & Border |
| David Chisnall | Reporter | Reporter, ITV Central |
| Andrew Toft | Reporter | |
| Jamie Weir | Reporter | Reporter, Sky Sports News |
| Katie Bailey | Reporter | |
| Natalie Pirks | Reporter | Sports Reporter, ITV News |
| Zoe Gough | Reporter | Reporter for BBC Points West |
| David Warriner | Reporter | |
| Steven Godden | Reporter |
External links
References
- ^ Setanta Sports News to shut down tonight Digital Spy, 23 June 2009
- ^ Setanta Sports News launch date announced Digital Spy, 5 November 2007
- ^ "Sports News is about to get an exciting new look". BroadcastNow. 12 September 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
- ^ "Setanta UK goes into administration". Irish Times. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
- ^ Gibson, Owen (29 November 2007). "Setanta sports news trains its sights on Sky". London: Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
- ^ Tryhorn, Chris (24 July 2007). "Setanta plans sports news channel". London: Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
- ^ Setanta goes into administration The Guardian, 23 June 2009
