Looks like Setanta is becoming a very large player.. this off soccertv.com:

FOX Sports International (FSI) has sublicensed US and Canadian TV rights to an average of approximately 4 2006-2007 English Premier League (EPL) matches each week to Setanta Sports North America.

In the United States, FOX Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports USA will divide the 2006-2007 EPL season as follows:

Saturdays at 7:30am ET: Setanta Sports USA
Saturdays at 10am ET: Setanta Sports USA has the 1st and 3rd picks, FOX Soccer Channel has the 2nd and 4th picks
Saturdays at 12noon ET: FOX Soccer Channel
Sundays at 8:30am ET: Setanta Sports USA
Sundays at 11am ET: FOX Soccer Channel
Mondays at 3pm ET: FOX Soccer Channel
Tuesdays-Fridays: Setanta Sports USA has the 1st pick, FOX Soccer Channel has the 2nd pick
The EPL will no longer air via pay-per-view in the US.

Hi,
Got a comment from Setanta US that they want to enter Canada but this is proving very difficult. Did not say why and I have asked that. They did say that I could get the matches on Setanta Broadband!

www.soccertv.com now out with first week end schedule. Shows 3 games on Sportsnet, including late last season style of different games on the different regions. Also, Chelsea game on FSWC on the Sunday.
NOTE Chelsea v Liverpool next week has now disappeared from the list of games!

robin wrote:

Hi, Got a comment from Setanta US that they want to enter Canada but this is proving very difficult. Did not say why and I have asked that. They did say that I could get the matches on Setanta Broadband!

Probably because they would need to apply for a channel licence through the CRTC or they could go down the old PPV route. I doubt they would touch the PPV again. It was a big money loser the last time. They might try selling rights through another outlet but, I believe, in the short term they will simply exercise their "1st pick" rights and show those games exclusively in pubs and clubs.

May not be a bad thing actually. It could mean more variety on Sportsnet and FSWC and less ManUtd and Chelsea.

One question though. Do their "1st pick" rights even apply to home viewers in Canada?

Just saw the FSWC schedule for the next 2 weeks

http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/tvchannels/foxsports/index.html

It does not look good -- NO Charity Shield -- No England Vs Greece and the 11:00 Sunday match appears to be on at 1:00 delayed. Also no German/Scottish coverage either

Tell me again why we have this channel???

Looks like our coverage is going downhill fast.

It also appears that Sportnet may not have the 12:00 FSC channel game either. They are planning on re-running the 10:00 game over again. But I will take that over nothing!!!!!!!!!!

Well, at least we have Saturdays

Rammer wrote:

Just saw the FSWC schedule for the next 2 weeks http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/tvchannels/foxsports/index.html It does not look good -- NO Charity Shield -- No England Vs Greece and the 11:00 Sunday match appears to be on at 1:00 delayed. Also no German/Scottish coverage either Tell me again why we have this channel??? Looks like our coverage is going downhill fast. It also appears that Sportnet may not have the 12:00 FSC channel game either. They are planning on re-running the 10:00 game over again. But I will take that over nothing!!!!!!!!!! Well, at least we have Saturdays

just checked sportsnet web site no games listed all tba to check who is playing click on soccer the click on tv schedule for all the games like i said all games are tba

No panic yet. As I can see Sportsnet will be showing 3 matches on the first Saturday - Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle games. Last 2 are on 2 different regions live at 10 am and then alternated at 12.30 pm so 3 matches in total. Also the following midweek Fox have a midweek game live if I remember it's Middlesborough v Chelsea.
Still looks as if we'll have as many as I can watch.

Hi,

I got this responce from Sportsnet -- I have to say they are very prompt in responding to eMails.

"Thanks for your recent email. Just as in previous seasons, we will be airing three EPL matches each Saturday morning. As well, just as in previous seasons, we will not know which EPL matches we are airing until the Monday/Tuesday of the same week. I hope this helps."

They however did not answer my query on the FA cup but it is encouraging.....

Sportnet just updated their website for the upcomin games..............

07:30 a.m. ET - Live
Sportsnet All Regions: Sheffield Utd. v Liverpool

10:00 a.m. ET - Live
Sportsnet All Regions: Newcastle v Wigan

12:30 p.m. ET - 15min Delay
Sportsnet All Regions: Bolton v Tottenham

I wish they had the Arsenal vs Aston Villa @ 10am...but thats aiight...

I usually don't post the same info twice, but I thought that it might help in this case. Questions have been raised about Setanta Canada....It has been approved by the CRTC and will be will start in a "few" months and is going to show much of what is on Setanta USA...See below for my correspondence with them.

Brendan

I have been in contact with Setanta...see below for e-mails....It will be coming soon...

Pretty much.
----- Original Message -----
From: Crampsey, Brendan F
To: Setanta Sports
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 1:09 PM
Subject: RE: Setanta in Canada?


Thanks for the quick response....Is the plan to do the same as SetantaUSA?

Thanks...Brendan
-----Original Message-----
From: Setanta Sports [mailto:sschannel@setanta.com]
Sent: July 17, 2006 3:27 PM
To: Crampsey, Brendan F
Subject: Re: Setanta in Canada?


Soon but I can't give a date. It is a matter of months I hope.
----- Original Message -----
From: Crampsey, Brendan F
To: sschannel@setanta.com
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 10:55 AM
Subject: Setanta in Canada?


For the past couple of months I have been hearing various rumours about a Setanta Canada being approved by the CRTC. Can you confirm whether the station is going to be a reality or not? If it is going to happen, when do you plan to start broadcasting?

Thanks...Brendan

Just a thought but the lack of the Arsenal game may be the first effect of Setanta USA having 'share' of Fox coverage,as I believe I read previously that Setanta had first choice of the 10am match.

Check out soocertv.com there is a press release that might help solve this confusion that seems to be going on as to which channel will show what games

Hi, I think that Setanta Canada will lunch in a near future. Why? Just look on soccertv.com and you will see that 3 games of EPL for the next season as for a yet-to-be-lunched channel. So, I think that Setanta hold the rights for these games (and dont sold them to The Score or other TV network) because the channel wiil be lunch very soon. Also, check the mail I receive from Setanta yesterday:

My e-mail:

What about the rumour that RCS Channel approved by the CRTC is in effect Setante Sports Canada?

Thank you!

Setanta reply:

No, not yet. If you want to be on the email list to be the first to find out, just email back with update in the subject line. You'll be added to the Setanta Newsletter list.

I don't believe these rumors are true.

It now looks like we will have 3 live games on sportsnet on saturday(s) (check out sportsnet.ca/soccer) at least for the first week anyway and lets pray that we continue to support and watch the only major sport that has carried these channels (tsn, sportsnet, foxsports,etc...) for all these many months (remember the strike!!!!) unless you like watching the dog show from madison square garden (I dont have anything against dog shows!!!) or some guy playing poker maybe??? ( nothing against poker either!!!)
Its about time that the powers that be (i.e. fox sportsworld canada, sportsnet,etc....) realize whats going on (lets hope that the ratings from the world cup mean something) and join the 21st century and the rest of the world and welcome the worlds game .

---- Original Message -----
From: Simon
To: sschannel@setanta.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 8:50 PM
Subject: Canada


From what I have seen so far it looks like the first 2 Manchester United games are on Setanta Sports and only in the USA. How can I get these and other games. Do you have any plans to sublicense these games or offer Canadians a chance with pay per view?


In Canada these matches are only available in bars.

We are trying, but so far no luck. Starting a channel in Canada is proving difficult. The games are available in the bars and on the internet though.

If you want to be on the email list to be the first to find out if and when we do, just email back with update in the subject line. You'll be added to the Setanta Newsletter list.

Have you seen Setanta Broadband? It's new and the info is at www.setanta.com -- you have to have high speed internet though.

Enjoy the matches there if you have high speed internet!

Thanks for your support,

- Will Lowry

www.setanta.com

----- Original Message -----
From: Simon
To: 'Setanta Channel'
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2006 5:07 AM
Subject: RE: Canada


I have checked your Broadband schedule and there is no mention of Manchester United vs Fulham on August 20th or Charlton vs Manchester United on August 23rd so I do not hold out much hope for any other United games. Can you tell from your schedule how many United games I am going to get screwed out of ? I find that no United games available ( I bet Canada are the only ones left out) is diabolical and a major step backwards. I understand this is a good business move for you but find it impossible to believe that someone in Canada cannot be sold the package, even if it was pay per view. Any true United fan and there are may of us here will be sorely disappointed that Setanta has exclusive rights. It is no good telling me the games are available in bars because I have to earn a living and cannot record the games to watch when I get home like I could if they were available at home.
Maybe your broadband schedule just hasn't been updated and you do in fact have the United games. If so I have a question relating to that. If on Wednesday August 23rd I get home a few hours after the United game would it be already archived on Broadband for me to watch at that time.
Thanks
A very frustrated United fan.

No, unfortunately, we do not have the Broadband rights to the EPL. But the Euro Qualifiers WILL be on Broadband!

- Will Lowry

www.setanta.com


-

For all you trying to figure out how your going to get your United matches in Canada.. we'll you basically have 2 options.

Option 1 - head to your local soccer pub that subcribes to Setanta USA / Premium.

Or Option 2 - get Direct TV Satelllite. Even though it's not authorized by the CRTC (progressive morons) ... You can get a dish with a receiver and decoded card to access Fox Sports Channel, Setanta, ESPN etc... there are literally thousands of people in Toronto with this setup, and pretty much all of woodbridge is on free satellite..

so unfortunately those are your options.. once you get the dish you won't regret it.. but you will hvae to fork out some $$$ for initial setup, hardware acquisition and the occasional decoding of the card..

good luck!

FYI:
Setanta Sports USA
DirecTV - Channel Number: 615

How do you go about doing all of this?

ritchie wrote:

For all you trying to figure out how your going to get your United matches in Canada.. we'll you basically have 2 options. Option 1 - head to your local soccer pub that subcribes to Setanta USA / Premium. Or Option 2 - get Direct TV Satelllite. Even though it's not authorized by the CRTC (progressive morons) ... You can get a dish with a receiver and decoded card to access Fox Sports Channel, Setanta, ESPN etc... there are literally thousands of people in Toronto with this setup, and pretty much all of woodbridge is on free satellite.. so unfortunately those are your options.. once you get the dish you won't regret it.. but you will hvae to fork out some $$$ for initial setup, hardware acquisition and the occasional decoding of the card.. good luck! FYI: Setanta Sports USA DirecTV - Channel Number: 615

Why?? Are we certain that Setanta's Canadian distribution will be PPV? What if it's a stand alone channel which would only cost something like $2.50 per month(Expressvu)? Wouldn't that be worth it rather than fannying about with illegal dishes and decoders? We already get more live games (non PPV) than they get in the UK. Sure we want to see the best, but a steady diet of ManUtd and Chelsea wouldn't tempt me to istall DirecTV.

Boca, first of all, as far as i know, it's not illegal to purchase a dish and get access to many free programming such as RAI, RTPi etc.. Also regardless if you are doing it for soccer or not, the programming in the US is far more vast & entertaining than what you get in Canada.. we can thank our regulatory body of CRTC for that.. i don't think it's a crim to smoke marlboro, why should it be to watch FSC just because some canadian entity says we must not import that ?

Robin, to get a satelite dish you can find many installers through bar / pub contacts. You can try ethnic papers for installers, cehck the web, or yellow pages.. I think every other italian or portuguese i know has satellite setup picking up all the major soccer networks.. free .. anyways. it's just an option.. i am not saying it's a good idea or not, just an option available to you if you want it.. I will guarantee that the programming on FSC is much better than FSWC.. so for that purpose alone it might be worth it.. another reason might be to avoid going out in the freezing cold in the winter to head out to your soccer pub on weekend mornings. As for setanta fee.. i don't think 2.95 for that channel is going to fly.. i'd expect something along the lines of what they charge in the us.. 10-15 bucks a month.. which might very well be worth it, if you can consider gas and parking 4-8 times a month to the pub.. not to mention breakfast and a pint or 2

good luck !