Setanta Sports News was a production of the Virgin Media Television network and Setanta Sports. Launched in November 2007, this channel became a Round-the-clock sports news provider for Setanta Sports. Setanta Sports News capitalized on the success of Setanta Sports and attempted to capture the sports news viewers situated in UK and Ireland. A totally free channel available via satellite tv and in addition available on the internet, Setanta Sports News was positioned as Sky Sports News primary rival. Even though Sky Sports News became an integral part of Virgin Media television, Setanta Sports remained with this particular platform and continued to retain its rival position.
Approximately a year after the channel launch, it was decided that the channel required a different look. Thus came the new look in the show with a widescreen format, headlines were run in the bottom entire screen and many more smaller yet significant changes. The channel however continued to test out its looks and format structure over the year incorporating smaller changes to make it attractive to the viewers.
Setanta Sports was doing very well as being a sports channel since its inception in 1990. This channel broadcasted international sports entertainment from the station based in the city of Dublin in Ireland. Formed with an understanding of the Irishmans love for sport, this channel targeted at broadcasting all Irish sports events to its Irish expats. They have a set of individual channels that operate in the US, Ireland, Canada, Australia and Africa and broadcast sporting events including hurling, golf, Gaelic football, association football, American football, horse racing, boxing, rugby union and darts.
However after a successful run for over a decade, Setanta Sports began facing financial difficulties. The channel operated by Setanta Sports in the UK used to get broadcast just as Setanta Sports entered administration or liquidation during 2009 due to financial issues and insufficiency of funds. The ownership of Setanta Sports Channel Ireland limited changed. The channel then proceeded to be co-owned by Gaiety Investments and Sabloss Limited.
Due to this change in fortune, Setanta Sports News ceased broadcasting from 2009. This was also followed by a loss of a number of jobs. However parts of Setanta Sports continued broadcasting sports events in Ireland, Canada, USA and Australia. The only hiccup was that some content remained affected because of the closure of the operations in Great Britain.
Setanta Sports remained in the news for the various reports that continued to brew regarding its change in ownership and prospective buying proposals. There were several reports by news providers that spoke of Setanta Sports Ireland was being looked over with interest by music producer Dennis Desmond.
Following the ownership change each of the Setanta Channels, the one in Ireland as well as the one in the USA, are licensed from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. These broadcast rights include airing of club football from counties including Germany, France, Ireland, Brazil and Netherlands, national football games, rugby union games, rugby league games, exclusive rights for the live broadcasting of the USA PGA golf tour along with other championships including Australian Football League, war of the darts etc.
