Setanta settle on their future formula

SPORT ON TV: Setanta sports chief executive Niall Cogley confirmed at the the official launch of the channel yesterday that no charges will be placed on current NTL subscribers. However, those seeking access to the channel via Chorus or Sky Digital will have to pay a yearly fee of €99.

This year's Formula One championship, which starts in Melbourne on March 6th, is the flagship event on the channel with a commentary team of Declan Quigley, David Kennedy and Gary Anderson unveiled at the Merrion Hotel last night. There will be live coverage of each practice and qualifying session, starting from Friday, March 4th.

The channel also begins a highlights package of the French, Dutch and German soccer leagues with live matches to be shown later in the year.

The rugby coverage of the Celtic league, schools cups and French top-16 championship will also continue.

The official launch is seen by Cogley as a statement that the channel is finished the "practice run" and wishes to be compared to, and treated like, their rivals.

"We are ready to take our place amongst the rest and accept the comparisons that will come with that," he said. "The schedule is starting to take place with European football coverage giving an alternative proposition to the soaps.

"The viewer will be 100 per cent guaranteed a Premiership game every Saturday and the SPL (Scottish league) coverage will also continue. It is free on NTL and always will be. That is not a trick, as we are confident they will stand over it."

The forthcoming television rights for Gaelic games coverage are another key element for Setanta prosperity in the Irish market. Although it's highly unlikely they will beat RTÉ to the main football and hurling championship rights, some form of secondary rights would be the initial hope.

"We have made a strong proposal for GAA coverage and expect a reply soon but that is up to the GAA," Cogley added.

The station broadcasts from Ireland on weekdays, with the weekend programmes coming out of Scotland. That changes next month with seven-day coverage to come from their Princess Street studios in Dublin.

Also in football, they have secured the rights for the UEFA Cup, while the cross-Border Setanta Cup and World Cup qualifier between the Republic of Ireland's Ireland's main Group Four rivals France and Switzerland will be televised in March.

UpcomingEvents

Feb 20th: SPL - Celtic v Rangers

Feb 20th: Celtic League - Munster v Glasgow'

Feb 26th: Premiership - Tottenham v Fulham

Mar 4th, 5th, 6th: Formula One - live coverage of Melbourne GP weekend

Mar 5th: Celtic League - Cardiff v Munster

Mar 6th: Celtic League - Leinster v Ospreys

Mar 15th: Setanta Cup starts

Mar 26th: World Cup group four qualifier - France v Switzerland.