Setanta launches broadband services

Setanta, the pay-TV sports provider, is launching a broadband service, which it claims is the only way to watch Barclays Premier League football action live online. Setanta by Broadband is one of a number of new products from the Irish broadcaster ahead of the start of the new season.

Setanta, the pay-TV sports service, is launching a broadband service, which it claims is the way to watch Barclays Premier League football action live online. Setanta by Broadband is one of a number of new products from the Irish broadcaster ahead of the start of the new season.

The broadband channel will include coverage of Setanta’s live TV sports broadcasts, including games from the Premier League, pre-season friendlies, action from the Scottish Premier League, golf from the US PGA Tour and Magners League Rugby Union.

It will also allow subscribers to catch up on missed sports coverage, with a library of archive content. The service costs £7.99 a month and allows live online coverage of Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Sports 2 and Setanta Golf via simultaneous broadcast (simulcasts).

Setanta Sports GB marketing director Timothy Ryan says the service is “unprecedented” in sports broadcasting. He says: “This is the beginning of a new lifestyle for sports fans.”

Last week Setanta announced that is launching Setanta Sports News with Virgin Media and an ad-funded sports portal. It has also signed Des Lynam to front its marketing campaign and present some of its coverage.

Setanta has the rights to a third of the Premier League games this season and aims to break BSkyB’s monopoly on the league.