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Setanta holds crunch SPL meeting Setanta holds crunch SPL meeting
(about 11 hours later)
The board of football broadcaster Setanta is meeting a week after the company failed to pay the Scottish Premier League (SPL) £3m.The board of football broadcaster Setanta is meeting a week after the company failed to pay the Scottish Premier League (SPL) £3m.
The SPL has found £3m to distribute to the 12 member clubs from its own funds to tide them over.The SPL has found £3m to distribute to the 12 member clubs from its own funds to tide them over.
Setanta also has a much larger outstanding payment due to the Premier League in England - about £40m.Setanta also has a much larger outstanding payment due to the Premier League in England - about £40m.
Unless backers agree to supply more cash, Setanta is thought certain to be forced to call in administrators.Unless backers agree to supply more cash, Setanta is thought certain to be forced to call in administrators.
The company was due to make the final payment of the season on Monday 1 June for its Scottish football match coverage.The company was due to make the final payment of the season on Monday 1 June for its Scottish football match coverage.
Last week the SPL held two board meetings before deciding to find £3m themselves to support the 12 Scottish premier league clubs.Last week the SPL held two board meetings before deciding to find £3m themselves to support the 12 Scottish premier league clubs.
Unable to pay £3m in Scotland, Setanta face much bigger financial hurdles later this month, when a £40m payment to the Premier League falls due.Unable to pay £3m in Scotland, Setanta face much bigger financial hurdles later this month, when a £40m payment to the Premier League falls due.
The broadcaster showed England's world cup qualifier on Saturday, but that may be the last time Setanta is involved.The broadcaster showed England's world cup qualifier on Saturday, but that may be the last time Setanta is involved.
A shared deal with ITV saw them secure rights for England and FA Cup matches for £425m.A shared deal with ITV saw them secure rights for England and FA Cup matches for £425m.
Scottish optionsScottish options
One option for the SPL would be to terminate the contract with Setanta, but such a move would leave the SPL forced to find another broadcasting partner.One option for the SPL would be to terminate the contract with Setanta, but such a move would leave the SPL forced to find another broadcasting partner.
Their weakened position would mean a reduced financial deal.Their weakened position would mean a reduced financial deal.
Setanta first won the rights to broadcast live SPL matches in competition with previous rights holder BBC Scotland in 2004.Setanta first won the rights to broadcast live SPL matches in competition with previous rights holder BBC Scotland in 2004.
However, it is unlikely that a free-to-air terrestrial broadcaster could now come close to matching the kind of money offered by Setanta for live coverage of Scotland's top-flight.However, it is unlikely that a free-to-air terrestrial broadcaster could now come close to matching the kind of money offered by Setanta for live coverage of Scotland's top-flight.
BBC Scotland has been broadcasting SPL match highlights on television and the internet while looking to buy up rights to live matches involving Scottish clubs in European competitions.BBC Scotland has been broadcasting SPL match highlights on television and the internet while looking to buy up rights to live matches involving Scottish clubs in European competitions.
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