Setanta financial problems

[Wild Weasel]

So it seems:

Time running out for Setanta rescue

Setanta remains on the verge of collapse as shareholders battle over whether the loss-making business could be made viable

BY Dan Sabbagh and Alexi Mostrous

Setanta came close to falling into administration this morning, but the embattled sports broadcaster was able to negotiate last minute breathing space to ensure it would survive in the short term.

The reprieve, however, was not due to the emergence of a rescue plan, and Setanta remains on the verge of collapse as shareholders battle over whether the loss-making business could be made viable.

A source close to the negotiations between Setanta and its private equity owners, Balderton Capital and Doughty Hanson, said the company’s survival “hung in the balance.” Setanta’s future would be decided “in a matter of days rather than weeks,” the source said.

Time running out for Setanta rescue - Times Online

[Geege]

Yes, I've just seen that on the news They have the rights to the Australian rugby league competition (NRL) and the representative state of origin competition. I wonder if it will go back to Sky Sports

[JohnG]

I'm glad about this, it might mean I subscribe to Sky Sports again if they do go under. There's no way I'm going to subscribe to 2 sports channels.

[Decadence]

I posted in another thread about how they could save themselves...just offer an adult channel as part of their subscription service...if it shows up on your statement as setanta you're not going to get yourself in trouble with the wife or you get the bonus of sport and porn within one package price. They'd get a ton more subscriptions.

[jayden28]

shame that,i liked all the boxing setanta showed,not to bothered about the foot ball as sky will most likely bring back prem plus if setanta go down.

[JohnG]

I'm still annoyed that they've taken the England games away from the other channels. They didn't win themselves any friends amongst England fans when they wouldn't allow anyone to show highlights.
If they go under then one of the others will get the England away games back again and that's good news as far as I'm concerned.

[jabintendo]

It is a shame for another company to out of buisness, but setanta's football coverage was quite poor. Their picture was one of the worst i have ever seen and i don't really like their comentators.
I would much prefer sky have all the channels because at least they invest the money like in hd, but i wouldn't suscribe to a prem plus channel again.
It would be nice to see bbc buy the rights, but i very much doubt that would happen.
(Quick question, are sky even allowed to buy the rights because they have the rest of the other football packages?)

[JohnG]

I believe they also didn't win any friends in their customer support department. I've read lots of tales of them messing people about over payments.

[jayden28]

Some good news will come out of this,no more steve mcmananam and graig burley.

[jendo]

Bunch of cowboys. They tried to scam me and I only got satisfaction after starting legal proceedings. Of course it's sad to think of employees losing there jobs particularly in the current economic climate but setanta as a company I say good riddance. I hope other companies will look at how bad customer relations can help a business model to fail and make more of an effort to keep there customers happy

[FZR400RRSP]

I cancelled it last week.
I would have cancelled anyway, it wasn't a reaction to the news.
Poor product.

Jim Delahunt will be out of a job though.

[abhinn]

I only pay £3.99 a month for there service and at that price it was acceptable , can't be arsed giving sky anymore cash, would much rather go down my local pub and watch the game

[DJT75]

Good. Let me know when to open the champagne. They deserve everything they get IMO.

[Steve N]

Originally Posted by JohnG

I believe they also didn't win any friends in their customer support department. I've read lots of tales of them messing people about over payments.

Very true.

They were featured on several watchdog type programmes for deliberately making it almost impossible to cancel and then continuing to debit customers accounts.
I'm one of many who tried to cancel but still had my account debited.
In my case for a further 3 months after they actually emailed acknowledgement of my cancellation

[Scholes18]

A friend of mine decided to take advantage of setentas one month trail sometime last year , the 9.99 one iirc.

He rings up and then gets hit with a tenner connection charge their adverts didnt mention but he really wanted it for the month he was after.

Anyway he rings up to bin it off after the 31 days to be told that theyd already billed him for the 2nd month after 30 days.

All sorts of trouble then commenced trying to to get it properly cancelled and a refund.

Horrible company that wont be missed