Setanta goes heavyweight with exclusive Sports Network deal
-Exclusive broadcast rights to Frank Warren’s stable until December 2010-
-Alex Arthur vs. Joan Guzman confirmed for May 3-
London, April 7th, 2008: Setanta Sports has further strengthened its position as the home of boxing by signing an exclusive broadcast deal with Frank Warren’s Sports Network, in a three-year deal to December 2010.
The agreement means that fights involving Frank Warren’s stable of boxers – including Joe Calzaghe, Enzo Maccarinelli, Alex Arthur, Kevin Mitchell, Gavin Rees and Matt Skelton - will only be available to Setanta Sports subscribers.
Setanta and Sports Network have worked together on several fights in the past year already, including Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler and Enzo Maccarinelli vs. David Haye. Setanta Sports also has exclusive live broadcast rights to Joe Calzaghe’s light-heavyweight ‘super-fight’ with Bernard Hopkins on Saturday, April 19th, Alex Arthur vs. Joan Guzman’s WBO super-featherweight title clash on Saturday, May 3rd and Kelly Pavlik vs. Gary Lockett's World Middleweight title clash on Saturday, June 7th.
Setanta’s Director of Sport, Trevor East, commented: “This deal is a big coup for Setanta and proves that we are the new home of top fight boxing. Boxing is an important part of Setanta’s schedule and we’re delighted to team up with Frank Warren’s Sports Network to ensure our viewers have fights of the highest calibre. Setanta Sports is now a must have for boxing fans in the UK.”
Sports Network’s Frank Warren said: “I’m delighted to continue our relationship with Setanta by signing an exclusive three-year broadcast deal. They’ve proved their commitment to boxing over the last year by showing a fantastic range of fights from the UK and abroad. Their experienced presenting team also offers viewers great insight into our sport and we look forward to working with them on Calzaghe vs. Hopkins next week as well as Arthur vs. Guzman on May 3.”
Setanta Sports is available for £9.99 a month to satellite viewers, via a Freeview box or integrated digital TV with a viewing card slot and on BT Vision and Tiscali. Virgin Media XL pack subscribers can see Setanta for no additional charge, whilst M and L pack subscribers can add the Setanta Sports Pack for just £9.99 per month.
For information on how to subscribe, go to: setanta.com or call 08712 10 20 30. Virgin Media, BT Vision and Tiscali customers should contact their operator.
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For more information: James Matheson or Richard Tompkins at braben on 020 7566 2990 or email james@braben.co.uk / richardt@braben.co.uk
Richard Maynard at Sports Network on 07710 323962 / richardmaynard@frankwarren.tv
Notes to editors:
Setanta Sports is a leading international pay-TV sports broadcaster operating nine channels in the UK, Ireland, North America and Australia. Founded in 1992, its premium sports content is available to more than 50 million digital homes worldwide.
Setanta operates more sports channels than any other broadcaster in the UK and Ireland. Setanta Sports is the most widely-available premium sports channel in the UK and is available to all digital homes: on satellite, via Freeview, Virgin Media, Tiscali, BT Vision and by Broadband, ensuring the widest possible distribution to all sports fans.
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Setanta Sports is the only broadcaster of premium sports on digital terrestrial (Freeview). The Setanta Sports 1 channel, featuring the best of Setanta’s premium live content, is available via Freeview boxes or iDTV viewing card adaptors (CAM)
The Setanta Sports Pack is available to satellite and cable customers and is made up of the following ten channels:
Setanta Sports 1
Setanta Sports 2
Setanta Golf
Setanta Ireland
Arsenal TV
Celtic TV
Liverpool TV
Rangers TV
NASN (North American Sports Network)*
Racing UK
Setanta Sports is also available online, live and on demand, via Setanta by Broadband, featuring all Setanta’s leading content offered on Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Sports 2 and Setanta Golf, allowing sports fans to access at home, work or elsewhere.
For a full list of Setanta Sports’ exclusively live sporting content and fixture details, please visit www.setanta.com. Content includes Barclays Premier League football, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, Blue Square Premier, US PGA Golf, top-flight boxing, Indian Premier League cricket, Magners League rugby, Ultimate Fighting Championship and action from some of Europe’s best football leagues. Later this year, Setanta’s exclusively live content will include the Community Shield, England international friendlies (starting with England vs. Czech Republic on August 20th), 2010 World Cup qualifiers involving England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (from September) and the FA Cup from November.
Setanta Sports is available from £9.99 a month, with no annual contract required. For the latest pricing offers on any platform, please visit www.setanta.com or call 08712 10 20 30.
Setanta Sports is also joint owner with Virgin Media of Setanta Sports News, the new 24-hour sports news channel, available free-to-air on the Virgin Media platform, and also on satellite, covering all the top sports stories from the UK and abroad. Setanta Sports News provides viewers with the breaking sports headlines that matter every 20 minutes, delivered by a pool of presenters and multi-skilled reporters in the field, as well as supported by regular views and opinions from fan correspondents across the UK. Setanta Sports News EPG number on Virgin Media is 518. The satellite EPG number is 435.
*not available to Virgin Media customers