Sports fans can access up to eight Barclays English Premier League games
every week
TORONTO, Aug. 2 /CNW/ - Rogers Broadcasting and Setanta Sports announced
today a licensing arrangement through which they will jointly offer Canadian
broadcasting distributors a pay-per-view (PPV) sports package dedicated to
bringing the best international sporting events to Canadian fans, including
live coverage of exclusive English Premier League games as well as Rugby World
Cup 2007. Rogers Cable and Bell ExpressVu are expected to offer the package
with an initial free preview period.
Beginning August 11, the Setanta International Sports Pak will be a must
have for soccer fans, with six out of ten LIVE weekly broadcasts of the
world's most watched sporting league, Barclays English Premier League (EPL). A
further two games will be shown on a delayed basis. The August schedule for
the PPV package includes Sam Allardyce's return to Bolton on the first day of
the season, Sven Goran Ericsson's first Manchester Derby on the 19th and Roy
Keane's first test against one of the big four - Liverpool, on the 25th.
Rugby fans will get into the action as well. The Setanta International
Sports Pak will feature the Rugby World Cup 2007; and the best international
and club rugby including Guinness Premiership, Super 14, RBS Six Nations and
the Heineken European Cup.
"We know first-hand from our weekly matches on Rogers Sportsnet that
Canadian fans are passionate about English Premier League as well as other
international sports," said Tony Viner, President & CEO, Rogers Media. "Our
partnership with Setanta, one of the leading sports broadcasters in the
international market, will give Canadians the most access to the best European
and international soccer and rugby leagues.
"We are committed to providing Canadian audiences with the highest
quality international soccer and rugby programming and this new partnership
with Rogers Broadcasting ensures sports fans won't miss a minute of Europe and
the World's best," said Roger Hall, chief executive, Setanta Sports North
America. "We are delighted that Rogers Broadcasting are our partners in Canada
where they have unrivaled experience of providing great sports television to
Canada."
The Setanta International Sports Pak will be available on PPV beginning
August 11 with the season's first live EPL match between Sunderland vs.
Tottenham Hotspur at 7:45am ET. Soccer and rugby fans can contact their local
provider for more details on pricing and availability of the PPV package in
their market.
Rogers Broadcasting and Setanta Sports hope to establish a digital
channel dedicated to soccer and rugby in the future.
Rogers Broadcasting Limited (www.rogers.com)
Rogers Broadcasting (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI) has 51 AM and FM radio stations
across Canada. Television properties include multi-cultural television
broadcaster Rogers OMNI Television, which is a free over-the-air system
consisting of four regional broadcasters; The Shopping Channel, a televised
and electronic shopping service; Rogers Sportsnet, Canada's live event and
high-definition leader and the management of two digital television services.
Setanta Sports North America (www.setanta.com)
Setanta operates the only dedicated European sports and rugby channel in
North America. In 2006, the 24-hour, digital pay TV network aired more than
1,000 live events, including European and International soccer, world-class
rugby and other sports programming designed to meet the growing demands of
international sports fans living in North America. SSNA is owned by
Dublin-based Setanta Sports worldwide, a leading, international pay television
broadcaster and the number two sports broadcaster in the United Kingdom,
providing top sports leagues and events to more than 100 million digital
television homes globally and to commercial venues in six countries. Visit
SSNA at its website address www.setanta.com.