Setanta woes worsen

By Martyn Ziegler , PA

Wednesday 10 June 2009

Print
A A A
Latest in TV & Radio
Sport on TV: Flintoff returns to Oz to snatch victory from jaws of crocodile
Up and away – how '7 Up' went global
Cameron aide’s cosy chats with News Corp
Lawyers told Hunt to stay out of Sky deal
Jeremy Hunt told me to quit, says former special adviser Adam Smith
David Cameron defends Jeremy Hunt BSkyB responsibility
Leveson Inquiry: Adam Smith evidence as it happened
Cameron knew Hunt would back BSkyB bid
How the 'Minister for Murdoch' made case for BSkyB deal
What 1,000 text messages tell us about a special relationship
Related articles
News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
From the blogs

GCSEs are a pointless waste of time

A few facts. Last year almost 70% of 16 year olds achieved at least 5 GCSE passes with grades A*-C. ...

Asylum seekers: When the questions tell us so much more than the answers

For the last four years I've been paying my karmic dues (I would say "contributing to the big societ...

Thanks to The Sun, for enriching each of our lives

Those at the super-soaraway Sun are, yet again, making outlandish claims that they’ve changed the wo...

Ones to watch: Aiden Grimshaw to Hey Sholay

With so much new music coming out it’s difficult to keep track of what’s out there. It’s a lucky dip...

Suggested Topics

Setanta suffered a fresh blow this morning as BT Vision suspended any further sales of Setanta Sports.


The board of the Irish broadcaster is meeting this morning to consider a last-ditch rescue package in a bid to stave off administration by selling off large chunks of the company.

BT Vision, the home digital TV service, has now moved to suspend any new sales.

"We are closely monitoring the situation with regard to the current position of Setanta Sports," BT Vision said in a statement.

"As a precaution we have currently suspended any further sales of Setanta Sports from this morning."

Setanta is still broadcasting but it is not now possible for new subscribers to sign up via their website either.

It emerged yesterday that BSkyB had refused a £50million lifeline to the Irish pay-TV broadcaster who are in crisis with a payment of more than £30million due to the Premier League this week and backers refusing to advance them any more money.

Sky's chief executive Jeremy Darroch said: "Our job is not to fund other companies.

"We have been talking to Setanta, and trying to work with them and help them.

"At the end of the day we are not a bank, we are a broadcaster, not a supplier of working capital to a business and rights holder.

"Our job is not to fund other companies. This is a huge amount of money."

Some Scottish Premier League clubs could be forced out of business if Setanta goes into administration, according to a former club chairman.

Labour peer Lord Foulkes, a former chairman of Hearts, believes the situation is very serious for members of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think it puts the future of one or two SPL clubs in jeopardy. They are already struggling financially and this on top of it could be the tipping point.

"In some clubs it represents up to 20 per cent of their income and the loss of it would be really catastrophic."

Another broadcaster, ESPN, is favourite to step in and take over Setanta's Premier League games if they go into administration.

Comments

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
SPONSORED FEATURES

Experience the Heineken Hub

Get free wi-fi and exclusive i content while you enjoy a tasty pint of Heineken at participating pubs.

Teaching jobs Networking 2012 Prizes & offers
Business videos

Can you imagine a career in teaching?

Be inspired to teach - let real teachers show you how rewarding the job can be.

Heineken Hub Networking 2012 Prizes & offers
Business videos

Playing a game-changing role during the Games

Cisco is providing the solutions for London 2012's complex IT needs.

Heineken Hub Teaching jobs Prizes & offers
Business videos

Enter the latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

Heineken Hub Teaching jobs Networking 2012
Business videos

Business videos from commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

Heineken Hub Teaching jobs Networking 2012
Prizes & offers
Career Services

Day In a Page

'I may be deaf, but you can still talk to me'

'I may be deaf, but you can still talk to me'

Being a teenager is hard enough – for those with hearing loss, it can be even more complicated
A right royal trip down the river

A right royal trip down the river

A new exhibition celebrates the glory days of London's mighty Thames
The 10 Best lawn mowers

The 10 Best lawn mowers

From petrol-fuelled to self-propelled
Every second counts

Why does life appear to speed up as we get older?

Matilda Battersby finds out how the clock plays tricks with our minds
Couture on the Croisette: Fashion hits

Couture on the Croisette

The best outfits from the 2012 Cannes Film Festival
Child of the revolution: the Burmese family that democracy brought back together

Home of the free

The Burmese family that democracy brought back together
Cannes review: Canine accolade and Hitler's return are high spots amid the gloom

Cannes review

Frocks, canine accolade and Hitler's return
Robert Fisk: The going price of getting away with murder... would $33m be enough?

The going price of getting away with murder

Robert Fisk: The long view
Principled Skinner rises above the fray

Principled Skinner rises above the fray

Andy McSmith meets Dennis Skinner
Patrick Cockburn: I fear this terrible massacre will be the beginning of a long civil war in Syria

Patrick Cockburn

I fear this terrible massacre will be the beginning of a long civil war in Syria
Hardeep Singh Kohli: For me, it is all about 'Gregory's Girl', a record of first love

Hardeep Singh Kohli

For me, it is all about 'Gregory's Girl', a record of first love
Christian Louboutin: 'I don't think comfort equals happiness'

Christian Louboutin interview

'I don't think comfort equals happiness'
Happy birthday, Hotel Babylon!

Happy birthday, Hotel Babylon!

Hollywood's home to the A-list celebrates 100 years of discreet luxury
Rupert Cornwell: Low-rise capital could finally reach for the sky

Rupert Cornwell: Out of America

Low-rise capital could finally reach for the sky
The secret life of the red carpet

The secret life of the red carpet

As Cannes reaches its climax with the Palme d'Or and the celebrities gather in London for the Baftas tonight, Kate Youde and Jack Dean investigate the real star of the show