rugby on tv

via YouTube -- BOD legends clip.

These are the best I can find, I’ll replace once there are better available.

Old Link

A reader has informed me that FSC+ HD will cost the same as Setanta Sports $14.99/month and will be on Directv on March 1.  I will call Directv to confirm later.

Update – I cannot confirm the above pricing with Directv or the availability of FSC on March 1. I presume they will make some official announcement very shortly. Directv are not making any comment about Setanta despite Setanta themselves already making their announcement.

Good news, looks like we’ll get to see rugby on FSC from March 1 as Setanta have announced a transfer of rights

“Setanta Sports has today announced that it has reached an agreement with Fox Soccer Channel to transfer select programming rights, including many premium soccer and rugby events.  Fox Soccer Channel will acquire these rights effective March 1, 2010.

Setanta Sports also announced that it will cease broadcasting its channel in the United States and the Caribbean on February 28th 2010.”

Setanta Press Release

UPDATE

ABC News Story

Bloomberg Story

Just heard for a reader that he received a letter from his provider confirming that Setanta Sports US will cease broadcasting on February 28. This is terrible news for rugby fans and we have to hope that the rights will be picked up by another broadcaster in the US. The Setanta service in Canada is unaffected.

Very silly by Grewcock that may have cost Bath’s progress in the ERC.

Setanta have dropped all English premiership soccer from their schedule.

Will Fox buy them?

UPDATE:  The closed circuit side of the Setanta Sports business has been split out to a company called Premium Sports Inc. owned by Shane and Michael O’Rourke, two founders of Setanta Sports. The rest of the company is now much easier to absorb in to a mainstream broadcast model like Fox.

You can listen to an EPL Talk Podcast with Shane O’Rourke and read between the lines.