Does anyone know about the Canadian situtation. Sportsnet seems not to be carrying the games and I am getting awfully worried that this new tv deal is going to fuck over all Canadians.
Here you go CLA. You are in luck living out east (footy-wise anyway) as Roger's will carry Setanta. Here in Vancouver we have Shaw and thus no coverage. That is bollocks. I will likely have to subscribe to Setanta's broadband coverage or get Bell ExpressVu. Bollocks I tell you.
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
July 30, 2007 at 9:10 PM EDT
A new soccer channel with extensive rights to live English Premier League games is set to begin operation in Canada in a matter of days.
Setanta Sports, an international content provider, will launch a Canadian channel in partnership with Rogers Communications.
Roger Hall, chief executive officer of Setanta's international operation, confirmed Monday that the channel will start in “the very short term.”
Shane O'Rourke, president of Setanta's North American operations, was even more explicit. He said it will be on the air in time for the start of the EPL season on Aug. 11.
“We'll be up and running by the 11th,” he said.
Neither Hall nor O'Rourke would comment on the licensing agreement, but based on Setanta's operations in Britain, Australia and the United States, the Canadian channel will operate as a premium pay service. To subscribe, consumers will pay about $15 a month.
Score Media acquired EPL rights last year. It then flipped the package to Setanta but kept the Sunday 11 a.m. (Eastern) game, which often showcases the best matchup of the week.
The Score has built additional programming around the Sunday morning telecast, including a Friday evening show that will preview the weekend games, a Saturday evening recap of the day's games, and a Sunday morning pregame show.
As well, the Score has retained broadband highlights rights and will stream its Sunday morning telecast.
The third carrier of EPL games will be Rogers Sportsnet. It has bought a Saturday 10 a.m. game from Setanta, but probably won't get first pick from the 10 a.m. slate of matchups.
It didn't hurt Sportsnet in its bid to acquire one game a week that it is owned by Setanta's partner, Rogers.
The bulk of EPL content – a full Saturday schedule, additional telecasts on Sunday and midweek telecasts – will air on Setanta.
O'Rourke says Setanta will provide the most comprehensive EPL Canadian package ever.
Rogers Cable, Cogeco Cable and Bell ExpressVu will carry the channel immediately. Carriage on Shaw Cable, Star Choice and Videotron is expected to take longer.
