Setanta Mulls Options as Deadline Looms

LONDON: Endemol is said to be in talks to acquire a stake in cash-strapped premium sports broadcaster Setanta, British press reports indicate, as the deadline for a rights payment to the English Premier League looms.

Access Industries, headed by Russian-born industrialist Len Blavatnik, is said to have already offered up £20 million for a 51-percent interest in the Irish-based broadcaster. Endemol is said to be discussing a 49-percent interest in Setanta along wth other investors. ESPN has already ruled itself out as a contender for the premium broadcaster, which has struggled to reach subscriber and revenue targets.

Meanwhile, the English Premier League is reportedly giving Setanta till Friday to make a £30 million broadcasting-rights payment before those rights are put back on the market. Setanta has the rights to broadcast 46 matches in the 2009-2010 British football season.