Virgin Media To Place Setanta Into XL TV Pack

Originally Posted by Digital Spy

Virgin Media is to offer customers who take Virgin Media's XL TV package an additional six Setanta Sports channels.

The cable group says this is not a "one-off" offer, and the extra channels - Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Sports 2, Setanta Golf, Racing UK, Celtic TV and Rangers TV - will form part of Virgin Media's TV XL package on an ongoing basis from July 26.

Virgin Media said in a statement that the offer would mean those who wish to watch all the live televised matches from the Barclay's Premier League "will pay over £110 less with Virgin Media than they would with Sky," over the first 12 months.

Customers of any other Virgin Media TV service who want to add these Setanta channels to their service will be able to do so for just £8 a month.

Hmmmmm I dont quite understand who is the loser in this arrangement. Its obviously not the customer, its a great bonus for them. But either Virgin are completely wiping out any chance of profit from the XL pack, or Setanta are set to lose millions by offering it to Virgin at a very reduced rate.

Of course its a kick in the teeth and the only way both companies can hurt Sky tbh, but one of them, or maybe both of them, are going to lose potentially millions of revenue or profit due to it, so its not really much good kicking Sky if you actually lose out financially lol.

Also, on Sky, there is 9 Setanta channels, which will become 10 in September, why is there only 6 on Virgin Media??

Great deal for Virgin Media customers, but either one of or both Virgin and Setanta are set lose a LOT of money just to stab Sky lol.

Also, if its something to do with Setanta lowering the price, Sky will have a case with the competition commission as premium channels featuring major events such as Premiership fixtures are protected the all-format rate card... Hence the price of Sky Sports is virtually identical on both Sky and Virgin Media.

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i just want virgin media to upgrade me broadband - everywhere else has been done :| lol

changed to sky+ for tv tho n got rid of telewest, now virgin media, a few months ago lol

Woo Hoo, lots of free sports for me, hmmmmm, I dont even like sports that much tho, DOH!

just ficked through the sentana channels on VM and they arn't even broadcast in widescreen. looks very budget to me, lets hope they use widescreen for the footy.

Lol they are sort of "as cheap as possible to run" channels. They are going to lose millions over their Premiership deal, and to be honest, I hope they do and can't wait till Sky get ahold of the rights again in a few years. They are apparently getting Des Lynam in for the Premiership coverage, and spending millions on advertising.

Setanta will probably make use of Sky feeds for their live Premiership football, so it will probably be broadcast in widescreen (ie. Sky will film the match, Setanta will be the channel broadcasting it).

Setanta have paid out far too much on the Premiership rights for their level of revenue, ITV Digital anyone??

Lol!