Setanta Sports 1 & 2
Encyclopedia
Setanta Sports 1 is a subscription based sports channel in the Republic of Ireland
and Northern Ireland
under a new licensing agreement between the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the newly formed company Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Ltd replacing Setanta Sports Ireland Ltd.
The channel carries coverage of association football (including top-flight European leagues and UEFA Europa League), boxing, golf, motorsport, and coverage of the Gaelic Athletic Association
.
and Setanta Sports 1 and are shared between the two channels. In some instances (largely football coverage) Setanta only possess Republic of Ireland
rights, during such programming the channel is unavailable in Northern Ireland
. Conversly, live coverage of GAA Championship matches is available only in Northern Ireland and not the Republic.
, an annual soccer tournament featuring teams from the League of Ireland
and Irish Football League. The top 4 teams from each league are drawn into a 4 team group with 2 teams from each league. In the group stages, each team plays each other 2 times (home and away) and the top 2 qualify for the semi-final. The semi-finals are played at Windsor Park
, Belfast
and Turners Cross
, Cork
. The Final is played at Tolka Park
, Dublin. It also sponsored the Conference League Cup
, called the Setanta Shield.
, Magnet Networks
, Smartvision
, SCTV Digital
and Homevision.
Setanta Sports 1 was previously available on all major UK digital television platforms including Sky, Virgin Media and BT Vision.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
under a new licensing agreement between the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the newly formed company Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Ltd replacing Setanta Sports Ireland Ltd.
The channel carries coverage of association football (including top-flight European leagues and UEFA Europa League), boxing, golf, motorsport, and coverage of the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
.
History
- Setanta Sports 1 was launched in 2004 by Setanta Sports Ireland Ltd, shortly after Setanta's UK operations (Setanta Sports GB) launched Setanta Sports 2.
- Setanta Sports 1 and Setanta Sports 2 ceased broadcasting in Great Britain on 23 June 2009
- Setanta Sports 1 continues to air in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, though Setanta Sports 2 has since ceased operating.
- On 27 July 2009 under a new licensing agreement between the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the newly formed company Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Ltd replacing Setanta Sports Ireland Ltd. Setanta Sports Ireland and Setanta Sports 1 continue to be offered to audiences in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
New ownership
As of 27 July 2009 the ownership structure of Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Limited (previously Setanta Sports Ireland Ltd) has changed. Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Limited is now co-owned by Gaiety Investments (60% share) with the remaining 40% share made up by Sabloss Limited. The main shareholders in Sabloss are Michael O’Rourke, Leonard Ryan and Mark O’Meara. Sabloss has also purchased 100% of the shares in Setanta Sports North America Limited. Both Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Limited and Setanta Sports North America Limited are licenced by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.Broadcast rights
Most of these air on both Setanta IrelandSetanta Ireland
Setanta Sports Ireland is a subscription based Irish sports channel featuring local and international sporting events. The channel is available on some basic cable packages in the Republic of Ireland, while it is available upon direct subscription to the Setanta Sports package on other networks...
and Setanta Sports 1 and are shared between the two channels. In some instances (largely football coverage) Setanta only possess Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
rights, during such programming the channel is unavailable in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Conversly, live coverage of GAA Championship matches is available only in Northern Ireland and not the Republic.
Club football
- UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
- UEFA Europa League
- Premier League (Saturday 3pm matches only, and only in the Republic of IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
) - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
(Republic of IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
only) - League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
- Setanta Sports CupSetanta Sports CupThe Setanta Sports Cup, commonly known as just the Setanta Cup, is a club football competition featuring teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland...
Gaelic Athletic Association
- GAA Football National LeagueNational Football League (Ireland)The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
- GAA Hurling National LeagueNational Hurling LeagueThe National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
(Live coverage in Northern Ireland, Deferred (not same day) in the Republic of Ireland) - All-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
(Live coverage in Northern Ireland, Deferred (not same day) in the Republic of Ireland)
Rugby Union
- IRB Rugby World CupRugby World CupThe Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
- Magners League (Deferred/highlights only from September 2010 onwards)
- Top 14 Orange
- Exclusive rights to the highlights of the RBS 6 NationsSix Nations ChampionshipThe Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
- Certain international rugby union Test games on a one-off basis
- IRB Sevens
Other programming
Setanta's major in-house programme is The Sports Show (formerly The Hub) which airs daily. It also simulcasts the radio show Off The Ball from Newstalk.Setanta Sports Cup
Setanta is the sponsor of the Setanta Sports CupSetanta Sports Cup
The Setanta Sports Cup, commonly known as just the Setanta Cup, is a club football competition featuring teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland...
, an annual soccer tournament featuring teams from the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
and Irish Football League. The top 4 teams from each league are drawn into a 4 team group with 2 teams from each league. In the group stages, each team plays each other 2 times (home and away) and the top 2 qualify for the semi-final. The semi-finals are played at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Turners Cross
Turners Cross (stadium)
Turners Cross is an all-seater football stadium located in and synonymous with the district of Turners Cross, Cork, Ireland. It is home to the Munster Football Association, and League of Ireland side Cork City FC....
, Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. The Final is played at Tolka Park
Tolka Park
Tolka Park is an Irish football ground located in the north Dublin suburb of Drumcondra, on the northern banks of the River Tolka. It is currently the home ground of League of Ireland club Shelbourne...
, Dublin. It also sponsored the Conference League Cup
Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
, called the Setanta Shield.
Availability
Setanta Sports 1 is available in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland on Sky. Additionally, it is available in the Republic of Ireland on UPC IrelandUPC Ireland
UPC Ireland is Liberty Global Europe's telecommunications operation in Ireland. UPC Ireland is the largest digital cable television provider within the Republic of Ireland. As of September 2010 the company offers broadband internet, digital television and digital telephony to over 531,000 customers...
, Magnet Networks
Magnet Networks
Magnet Networks is an Irish company providing telephone, television and internet services via subscription over optical fibre.Magnet Networks was launched in Dublin on 1 December 2004, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of US-based international investment company Columbia Ventures Corporation...
, Smartvision
Smart Telecom
Smart Telecom is an Irish telecom operator that started as a phone card seller. It is also the third largest provider of cost-sensitive telecom services sector in Ireland, behind the incumbent operator Eircom and BT Ireland. It currently has an estimated 50,000 land-line customers and 18,000...
, SCTV Digital
South Coast Television
South Coast TV was a television deflector and MMDS service operating in County Cork, Ireland. Its headquarters were in Carrigaline.-History:South Coast TV was founded in 1985 as the Carrigaline Community Television Project, to provide a multi-channel TV service to the people of Carrigaline...
and Homevision.
Setanta Sports 1 was previously available on all major UK digital television platforms including Sky, Virgin Media and BT Vision.
- On digital terrestrial televisionDigital terrestrial television in the United KingdomDigital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom encompasses over 100 television, radio and interactive services broadcast via the UK's terrestrial television network and receivable with a standard television aerial...
, Setanta Sports 1 was available as a standalone subscription channel, available to viewers with a compatible "Freeview" receiver. These include set-top boxes with a card slot, and IDTVIntegrated Digital TelevisionAn Integrated Digital Television set is a television set with a built in digital tuner, be it for DVB-T, DVB-S, DVB-C, DMB-T/H, ATSC or ISDB. Most of them also allow reception of analogue signals . They do away with the need for a set top box for converting those signals for reception on a...
s with a CAMConditional access moduleA conditional access module is an electronic device, usually incorporating a slot for a smart card, which equips an Integrated Digital Television or set-top box with the appropriate hardware facility to view conditional access content that has been encrypted using a conditional access system...
. The channel broadcasts between 12:00 and 03:00 - BT VisionBT VisionBT Vision is a hybrid IPTV-digital terrestrial television service provided by BT Group in the United Kingdom which was launched in December 2006...
offered the version of Setanta Sports 1 carried on DTT as part of the BT Vision Sport package, which combines the channel with a broadband on-demand highlights service - The entire Setanta Sports family of channels was available via satellite on Sky
- Virgin MediaVirgin MediaVirgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
offered entire Setanta Sports family of channels bar AH TV, Arsenal Replay and Setanta Commercial. Channels were available either as a part of the XL pack or as a separate subscription package