Interesting view of Setanta Coverage

**soccerc** · 15/12/2005, 1:58 AM

While it discusses Setanta's SPL coverage it is relevant to eL, in particular the last three paragraphs

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...html?gusrc=rss

**hamish** · 15/12/2005, 10:07 AM

Glad I susbcribed to Setanta. Loads of choice and Euro football on it. Also, The Hub programme at 7pm each night is lively.

Great selection of many sports.

They even have the Dublin Primary Schools GAA Finals on it. The FAI Schools should get on it as well.

**pete** · 15/12/2005, 10:52 AM

I think most people have Setanta in Ireland as doesn't cost extra with NTL. I don't think its worth �10-12 a month extra & would think few paid subscribers via Sky Digital.

I've watched the Hub the odd time but is just like listening to the radio. Very little eL coverage & even for their own Setanta Cup launch presenter didn't know much.

**hamish** · 15/12/2005, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by pete

I think most people have Setanta in Ireland as doesn't cost extra with NTL. I don't think its worth �10-12 a month extra & would think few paid subscribers via Sky Digital.

I've watched the Hub the odd time but is just like listening to the radio. Very little eL coverage & even for their own Setanta Cup launch presenter didn't know much.

I have Setanta via the Sky set up, Pete and it costs around 100 a year.

Yeah, the Hub is ok at times but still a welcome addition. Kind of thing to jump into every now and again and it can be lively when the right blend of guests are on.

The usual bloke who presents it has a kind of gentle "fcuk you" attitude at times but he's not too bad.

He sounds like he's a member of Foot.ie???? I wonder is he??

**drummerboy** · 15/12/2005, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by sirhamish

I have Setanta via the Sky set up, Pete and it costs around 100 a year.

Yeah, the Hub is ok at times but still a welcome addition. Kind of thing to jump into every now and again and it can be lively when the right blend of guests are on.

The usual bloke who presents it has a kind of gentle "fcuk you" attitude at times but he's not too bad.

He sounds like he's a member of Foot.ie???? I wonder is he??

Wouldn't surprise me, he is from Cork, he used to edit the short lived HIMSELF magazine many years ago. Also done a lot of documentary work on RTE. He has a quirky sense of humour.

The station generally has been a great addition to sports fans.

**hamish** · 15/12/2005, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

Wouldn't surprise me, he is from Cork, he used to edit the short lived HIMSELF magazine many years ago. Also done a lot of documentary work on RTE. He has a quirky sense of humour.

The station generally has been a great addition to sports fans.

How's it goin' drummerboy.

Yeah, your decription's much better than mine........"quirky sense of humour".

Yep, that's it, description fits him just right.

I kinda remember that magazine..........was it a kind of Mens Health/Hello/FHM-lite kind of thing??

Don't think it lasted long????

**drummerboy** · 15/12/2005, 12:46 PM

Yes, it was an Irish version of the above mentioned magazines. It wasn't bad but I don't think the market was there for it. Daire done a few great interviews with Roy Keane and even managed to get an audience with Beckham. Had a great fashion shoot with Dunphy sitting on his throne reading the paper. Another great stunt he done in HIMSELF was to provide Viagra to 3 young guys and ask them how they got on with the experiment. Hilarious, one guys girlfriend stood him up, and he was walking around banging his Roger off the wall.

Seriously though Daire O'Brien is a serious journalist, but has a really good knowledge of most sports especially the ggs.

**hamish** · 15/12/2005, 1:25 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

and he was walking around banging his Roger off the wall.

LOL

**Macy** · 15/12/2005, 3:06 PM

Don't subscribe to sky, but wrote asking whether I could subscribe just to Setanta. Never got an answer, so wouldn't bother now. Hopefully, if DTT ever roles out they'll be a station on that since they're free on ntl.

**noby** · 15/12/2005, 3:11 PM

"I think most people have Setanta in Ireland as doesn't cost extra with NTL"

Strange conclusion to come to, Pete.

**pete** · 15/12/2005, 3:51 PM

Originally Posted by noby

"I think most people have Setanta in Ireland as doesn't cost extra with NTL"

Strange conclusion to come to, Pete.

Why do you say that?

I'm not knocking Setanta just stating the facts. They don't have proper 7 day schedule yet. I guarantee if you poll people here 3/4 will have through NTL basic package.

**Peadar** · 15/12/2005, 4:11 PM

Originally Posted by noby

Strange conclusion to come to, Pete.

I think what he means is that if it wasn't free on NTL, not many NTL customers would actually subscribe to it.
This appears to be the case in Chorus Digital areas as with many Sky Digital customers.

**Tenderloins** · 16/12/2005, 8:54 AM

I see Setanta have some Bigs Ads in the papers today.... A big Celtic jersey with a certain name and number on it!!!
I'd say there'll be a few more subscribers in Ireland now after Keane joining Celtic.

**noby** · 16/12/2005, 9:14 AM

Originally Posted by pete

Why do you say that?

I'm not knocking Setanta just stating the facts. They don't have proper 7 day schedule yet. I guarantee if you poll people here 3/4 will have through NTL basic package.

Right. I re-read what you said. You're saying most people that have Setanta only have it because it comes free on NTL?
Sorry, I picked it up wrong.

**Tenderloins** · 16/12/2005, 9:41 AM

Setanta have been clever and have built up audiences and advertising showing things like the Schools Rugby (which has a good ,ABC1, audience) and the schools GAA.
They are clever enough too in that they decided not to show ****e just to fill up time. That said the amount of times I've turned it on and the All Ireland is being shown again is unreal!

**drummerboy** · 16/12/2005, 9:55 AM

Lets not forget the amount of money they are prepared to pump into the game here in Ireland. Money which is badly needed. Why haven't RTE and BBC done something like this before. The Setanta Cup certainly made good viewing last season and long may it continue.

**hamish** · 16/12/2005, 3:10 PM

Good points tenderloins and drummerboy..........RTE seem to have improved their EL coverage since Setanta have come along.

Too many fillers at the moment but I reckon as the station grows that situation will improve.

Great to see local sport getting a shout eg Dublin club GAA, Primary Schools GAA, Schools rugby etc.

Both schools, under age and Junior football authorities should be banging down Setanta's door for coverage too in that case. Here's why.

We ran the National Primary Schools Finals in Mullingar Town's Gainstown in 2000 - there were 4,500 there and TG4 covered it on that (now gone) Sportiris programme - TG4 wre amazed at the size of the crowd. Also, the Roscommon League has had over 2,000 at even Division 3 Cup*** Finals. Picture that......a nicely appointed Junior ground with a couple of thousand...would make a nice little half hour programme on Setanta.

Betcha you get good crowds at some finals in Mayo, Donegal, Cork, Dublin, the FAI Junior Cup Finals ( and some big qualifying matches too), Waterford etc etc etc. Schools internationals have, in the past, got up to 5,000 at games with good crowds also at many FAI under age games too (u-15s, u-21s etc etc).

I mean, LOCAL Gah matches (Dublin examples above) with a handful of fans attending can be covered so why not the above mentioned footie games with bigger crowds also not be covered??

This is where the FAI and affiliates (DDSL, FAI Schools, FAI Junior organisers etc etc) should really be pro-active.

Last point, as regards local coverage, I'm sure many people from the above places mentioned who are working in other parts of the country or even abroad would love to see their home areas sports on the telly. This a potentially huge market. Look at the amount of local papers that are posted to the US, for example, for people to keep up with what's happening in the old country.

***Woodlawn United v Strokestown United in Dysart ground near Athlone in early 1998.....was at it, at least 2,000 there.

**paudie** · 21/12/2005, 1:27 PM

Originally Posted by Tenderloins

Setanta have been clever and have built up audiences and advertising showing things like the Schools Rugby (which has a good ,ABC1, audience) and the schools GAA.
They are clever enough too in that they decided not to show ****e just to fill up time.

You could argue the Primary Schools GAA is ****e. Not really of much interest to anybody unless they are related to Sneachta or Fiachra playing for St.Patricks school Kilmacud.

Happened to see a bit of one girls game and it consisted of the biggest player on each team running as far as possible with the ball and going for goal.

**drummerboy** · 21/12/2005, 2:00 PM

Originally Posted by paudie

You could argue the Primary Schools GAA is ****e. Not really of much interest to anybody unless they are related to Sneachta or Fiachra playing for St.Patricks school Kilmacud.

Happened to see a bit of one girls game and it consisted of the biggest player on each team running as far as possible with the ball and going for goal.

On the contrary, quite a lot of people I have talked too have commented on how refreshing it was to see the sheer enthusiasm of children playing sports. I think it is a good point to have junior football covered, especially the FAI Junior cup games and the Intermediate Cup games also.

**iceman** · 21/12/2005, 6:11 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

Don't subscribe to sky, but wrote asking whether I could subscribe just to Setanta. Never got an answer, so wouldn't bother now. Hopefully, if DTT ever roles out they'll be a station on that since they're free on ntl.

Try www.setantarightnow.com