Irish sports broadcast channel Setanta has ceased taking on new subscriptions in an attempt to “secure the future of the business” after holding emergency meetings.

That’s a pretty big English Premier League package that would be available if reports are true…

Via BBC News 

In a message to customers on its website, the firm stressed it was not in administration and that it was broadcasting all channels as usual.

“As has been widely reported in various media channels, the management of Setanta Sports management is in the process of attempting to secure the future of the business,” the broadcaster said.

“In the current circumstances, we have decided to suspend temporarily the acceptance of new subscriptions.”

It urged customers not to cancel direct debits or recurring payments on credit cards, saying their contracts with the broadcaster still applied, and the service was still available,

Setanta’s founders Leonard Ryan and Michael O’Rourke are in talks with backers to secure financing to keep the firm going, according to some reports.

Meanwhile US sports broadcaster ESPN is also said to be interested in either buying the Irish firm for a nominal sum or simply bidding for its rights to English Premier League matches.

ESPN, which has been expanding in Europe, has remained quiet over its investment strategy.

But it missed out on acquiring the rights to English football’s top league when they were auctioned earlier this year.

It has emerged that rival broadcaster BSkyB refused a £50m lifeline to Setanta.

Setanta had offered access to its live rights for 46 English Premier League games next season as an add-on option to Sky Sports, in return for the cash.

BSkyB’s chief executive, Jeremy Darroch, said that his firm had been “talking to Setanta, and trying to work with them and help them”, but that it could not agree to the proposal.

“At the end of the day, we are not a bank, we are a broadcaster, not a supplier of working capital to a business and rights holder,” he said.

“Our job is not to fund other companies. This is a huge amount of money.”

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