Setanta to set up Scottish channels

IRISH broadcasting and media group Setanta Sport plans to set up two new television stations for Glasgow Rangers and Celtic football clubs.

Setanta, which has an exclusive contract to show Scottish Premier League football, will set up joint ventures with Rangers and Celtic to enable them run their own television channels for fans.

The channels will broadcast both club’s premier league games on a Monday evening and will also feature pre-season tour games, friendlies and exclusive interviews with players.

The channels will cost £6.99 (€10.50) a month, but Setanta is offering to reduce this by £3.99 (€6) if they sign up to the main SPL Live channel.

Peter Lawwell, executive director of Celtic FC, said: “The Setanta partnership is an exciting opportunity and gives Celtic TV access to a much wider audience”.

Last week, Setanta announced it would launch Ireland’s first dedicated sports channel in August on the Ntl platform. It plans to broadcast English and Scottish premier league games and Celtic League rugby.

In February, the company won the exclusive rights for four years to broadcast the SPL from the BBC. The contract is believed to be worth around €50 million.

Setanta will broadcast 38 SPL games a year and subscriber to the digital channel pay £15.99 per month.

Setanta was established by Leonard Ryan and Michael O’Rourke more than a decade ago. It employs more than 70 staff and is believed to have annual turnover of about €40m.