ntl to screen top matches on Setanta

Cable provider ntl will offer English and Scottish Premiership matches on dedicated new Irish channel Setanta Sports from next month.

Setanta Sports, which already screens sports events to pub audiences in the US and Australia, is launching the channel for 340,000 NTL customers on August 8.

The Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic will be shown, as well as Manchester United’s Premiership match against Norwich.

Setanta bought the four-year television rights to the SPL earlier this year for €54m. It will air the games on its new cable channel, on two Sky Digital channels and in pubs overseas.

The company also has the rights to the Celtic League rugby matches.

After showing the Premiership matches in August, Setanta will begin full weekend broadcasts in September. It said broadcasts will be extended to seven days a week in January next year.