Setanta Sports will be available on digital satellite in Australia from October 9.

Setanta will be available as an "a la carte" channel, with Foxtel subscribers contacting the broadcaster directly to add Setanta Sports to their subscription package. Setanta has contracted to use Foxtel's conditional access system in a process similar to that used by Sky with third party subscription broadcasters in the UK.

Foxtel's implementation of third party access to its platform is currently subject to Federal Court proceedings because Seven Network claims that the process does not offer sufficient protections for third party broadcasters.

Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams said: "The access agreement with Setanta shows that our Special Access Undertaking works. Foxtel provides open access on terms that are fair to both Foxtel and access seekers as the agreement with Setanta demonstrates."