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| Setanta 'is on brink of collapse' | Setanta 'is on brink of collapse' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Setanta faces administration "within days" unless backers provide more funds to pay £30m it owes to the English Premier League, reports have suggested. | Setanta faces administration "within days" unless backers provide more funds to pay £30m it owes to the English Premier League, reports have suggested. |
| The broadcaster has already failed to pay the Scottish Premier League £3m it owes in television rights money. | The broadcaster has already failed to pay the Scottish Premier League £3m it owes in television rights money. |
| Setanta, which also shows cricket, golf and rugby union, has about 1.2 million subscribers but is losing up to £100m a year, analysts say. | Setanta, which also shows cricket, golf and rugby union, has about 1.2 million subscribers but is losing up to £100m a year, analysts say. |
| Deloitte is set to step in to run the firm if it goes into administration. | Deloitte is set to step in to run the firm if it goes into administration. |
| Would-be customers who attempted to subscribe to Setanta through its website were on Tuesday told that it was not possible because of "routine maintenance". Meanwhile anybody trying to subscribe by phone receives a recorded message saying that "The service is temporarily out of order". | Would-be customers who attempted to subscribe to Setanta through its website were on Tuesday told that it was not possible because of "routine maintenance". Meanwhile anybody trying to subscribe by phone receives a recorded message saying that "The service is temporarily out of order". |
| A spokesman for Setanta declined to comment on the firm's situation. | A spokesman for Setanta declined to comment on the firm's situation. |
| 'Weaker' matches | 'Weaker' matches |
| The rights to show the English Premier League - and the subscribers that this pulls in - lie at the heart of Setanta's business model. | The rights to show the English Premier League - and the subscribers that this pulls in - lie at the heart of Setanta's business model. |
| But the firm had only about 60% of the subscribers it needed to break even, said Professor Chris Brady of the BPP Business School. | But the firm had only about 60% of the subscribers it needed to break even, said Professor Chris Brady of the BPP Business School. |
| SETANTA'S SPORTS Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueBlue Square PremierIPL cricketUS PGA Tour golfBoxing Q&A: The future for Setanta Why Setanta Sports is in trouble | SETANTA'S SPORTS Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueBlue Square PremierIPL cricketUS PGA Tour golfBoxing Q&A: The future for Setanta Why Setanta Sports is in trouble |
| "They have predicated the whole thing on getting those subscribers. The problem is they are taking on Goliath in BSkyB," he told the BBC. | "They have predicated the whole thing on getting those subscribers. The problem is they are taking on Goliath in BSkyB," he told the BBC. |
| Not only did Setanta have only a small percentage of televised Premier League games but they tended to be "weaker" matches, he added. | Not only did Setanta have only a small percentage of televised Premier League games but they tended to be "weaker" matches, he added. |
| There had also been problems with customer service, Professor Brady told the BBC. | There had also been problems with customer service, Professor Brady told the BBC. |
| Setanta's viability was cast into doubt earlier this year when it lost the rights to show 46 live Premier League matches from 2010/2011. | Setanta's viability was cast into doubt earlier this year when it lost the rights to show 46 live Premier League matches from 2010/2011. |
| In future, it will show only 23 games per season, compared with BSkyB's 115, with industry observers saying that thousands of customers would give up their subscriptions. | In future, it will show only 23 games per season, compared with BSkyB's 115, with industry observers saying that thousands of customers would give up their subscriptions. |
| Falling values? | Falling values? |
| It is expected that a rival broadcaster - perhaps ESPN - would buy up its Premier League football rights. | It is expected that a rival broadcaster - perhaps ESPN - would buy up its Premier League football rights. |
| But the worsening economy has led observers to suggest that the rights to 46 games that Setanta holds for next season, the final year of its current contract, would not be worth as much as they had been. | But the worsening economy has led observers to suggest that the rights to 46 games that Setanta holds for next season, the final year of its current contract, would not be worth as much as they had been. |
| Setanta has too few of the "big" Premier League games, say observers | Setanta has too few of the "big" Premier League games, say observers |
| There are also doubts about whether the Premier League could match the £159m Setanta paid for the right to screen 23 Premier League games each season from 2010-11. | There are also doubts about whether the Premier League could match the £159m Setanta paid for the right to screen 23 Premier League games each season from 2010-11. |
| A shared deal with ITV saw them secure rights for England and FA Cup matches for £425m - and it is likely another firm would buy up these rights. | A shared deal with ITV saw them secure rights for England and FA Cup matches for £425m - and it is likely another firm would buy up these rights. |
| One SPL club has told BBC Scotland that income from Setanta alone accounts for 33% of their income, while another said it was 20% for his club. | One SPL club has told BBC Scotland that income from Setanta alone accounts for 33% of their income, while another said it was 20% for his club. |
| "With cuts already being made for next season, the loss of revenue of 20% would undoubtedly have a knock-on effect on and off the pitch," said a source. | |
| It is feared that the loss of cash from Setanta could force as many as three SPL clubs into administration. | It is feared that the loss of cash from Setanta could force as many as three SPL clubs into administration. |
| Are you a Setanta subscriber? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you a Setanta subscriber? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |