 Setanta is trying to tackle its many problems |
The Walt Disney-owned sports network, ESPN, says it does not have any plans at present to buy beleaguered Irish broadcaster Setanta. It comes after speculation ESPN, which lost out on English Premier League TV rights this year, may make a bid. The board of Setanta, which has halted taking new subscriptions, has spent the week in emergency refinancing talks to try and stave off administration. "We currently have no plans to buy Setanta," an ESPN spokesman said. He added: "There are a lot of stories out there that link ESPN with a possible purchase. We wanted to set the record straight."
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ESPN had bid to win a slice of the forthcoming English Premier League TV deal, which will run from 2010 to 2013. However, when the deal was announced in February, Sky had won five of the packages and Setanta one. ESPN would not say whether it would be interested in acquiring Setanta's rights, and their spokesman said it was a hypothetical situation and a question for Setanta and the rights holder. On Wednesday Setanta confirmed it had stopped taking on new customers as it "attempts to secure the future of the business". Setanta has been holding emergency meetings this week to discuss survival plans.
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