Setanta U.S. to Cease Broadcasts

NEW YORK: Setanta Sports will cease broadcasts of its premium channel in the U.S. and the Caribbean on February 28 and is transferring select soccer and rugby rights to Fox Soccer Channel.

Announcing the move yesterday, Leonard Ryan, co-founder of Setanta Sports, said, “This is a significant milestone in the re-organization of Setanta Sports, following the acquisition of Setanta’s businesses in Ireland, the U.S., Canada and Australia in July 2009. Having examined several options for our U.S. business, we concluded that the best course of action for the Group is to exit the U.S. market and to concentrate on other markets where we can be a more substantial player in sports television. This transaction enables us to achieve that objective and to explore new opportunities in other markets.”

The U.S closure follows the shuttering of Setanta’s British channel last year. The Irish, Canadian and Australian operations remain up and running. Setanta Ireland was refinanced in July and renewed several key rights, including Barclays Premier League, the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League. Setanta says the Irish business remains profitable. The company also reports that it is at an "all-time high" number of subscribers in Canada and "delivers significant profitability" in its joint venture with Rogers. Next week, Setanta ventures into the online sports gaming market with Setanta Bet.

Fox Soccer Channel, meanwhile, is planning to fill the gap left by Setanta U.S with the launch of a premium football channel in March.