Sports channel Setanta calls in administrators

AFP - 23 June 2009 18:45

Troubled Irish sports TV channel Setanta Sport has sacked 200 people and called in the administrators after it lost the rights to show English Premier League football, administrator Deloitte said Tuesday.

LONDON (AFP) - Troubled Irish sports TV channel Setanta Sport has sacked 200 people and called in the administrators after it lost the rights to show English Premier League football, administrator Deloitte said Tuesday.

Neville Kahn of Deloitte said in a statement: "After a huge effort by the Setanta board, management team and its backers, it has not been possible to save the GB business, which will be wound down in due course."

"Regrettably, approximately 200 employees will be made redundant in respect of the GB business."

The English Premier League sold the 46 live games to US broadcaster ESPN after Setanta failed to make a scheduled payment of 30 million pounds (35 million euros, 49 million dollars).

Sky holds the rights to the rest of the live games.