Setanta secure US World Cup TV rights

IRISH satellite television company Setanta Sports has been awarded secondary language TV rights in the United States for this summer’s World Cup finals.

Setanta operates a pay-TV network available to American satellite subscribers and beams GAA, European football and rugby into pubs and clubs across the US.

FIFA agents Infront Sports & Media awarded the company the rights to World Cup football in languages such as German, Italian, Polish and French, as well as some from the Middle-East and Far East.

Setanta has plans to air all 64 matches from the tournament, which starts on June 9 in Munich.

“We are extremely excited to be able to bring these games live to the millions of fans of European extraction living in the US,” said chief executive of Setanta Sports North America Simon Green.

The English language TV rights for the tournament are held by ABC and ESPN, both owned by Disney, which will share its coverage of all 64 matches.