Setanta Sports News was a production of the Virgin Media Television network and Setanta Sports. Launched in November 2007, this channel was a 24 hour sports news provider for Setanta Sports. Setanta Sports News capitalized on the success of Setanta Sports and tried to capture the sports news viewers based in UK and Ireland. A free channel available via satellite television and also available online, Setanta Sports News was positioned as Sky Sports News primary rival. Even though Sky Sports News became an integral part of Virgin Media television, Setanta Sports remained with this platform and continued to retain its rival position.
Approximately 12 months following the channel launch, it was decided that the channel required a new look. Thus came the new look in the show with a widescreen format, headlines were run at the bottom length of the screen and many more smaller yet significant changes. The channel however continued to test out its looks and format structure across the year incorporating smaller changes to make it popular with the viewers.
Setanta Sports was doing very well as being a sports channel since its inception in 1990. This channel broadcasted international sports entertainment from its station based in the city of Dublin in Ireland. Formed with an idea of the Irishmans passion for sport, this channel aimed at broadcasting all Irish sports events to its Irish expats. They have a set of individual channels that operate in the United States, Ireland, Canada, Australia and Africa and broadcast competitive sports such as hurling, golf, Gaelic football, association football, American football, horse racing, boxing, rugby union and darts.
However following a successful run for more than a decade, Setanta Sports began facing financial hardships. The channel operated by Setanta Sports in Great Britain used to be broadcast just like Setanta Sports entered administration or liquidation during 2009 due to financial issues and insufficiency of funds. The ownership of Setanta Sports Channel Ireland limited changed. The channel then proceeded to be co-owned by Gaiety Investments and Sabloss Limited.
Due to this change in fortune, Setanta Sports News ceased broadcasting from 2009. This was also accompanied by a loss of a range of jobs. However parts of Setanta Sports continued broadcasting sports events in Ireland, Canada, USA and Australia. The only real hiccup was that some content remained affected due to the closure in the operations in the UK.
Setanta Sports remained in the news for the various reports that continued to brew regarding its alteration of ownership and prospective buying proposals. There have been several reports by news providers that spoke of Setanta Sports Ireland had been looked at with interest by music producer Dennis Desmond.
Following a ownership change both of the Setanta Channels, the one in Ireland and the one in the USA, are licensed from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. These broadcast rights include airing of club football from counties such as Germany, France, Ireland, Brazil and Netherlands, national football games, rugby union games, rugby league games, exclusive rights for the live broadcasting of the USA PGA golf tour and other championships such as Australian Football League, war of the darts etc.
