Setanta Sports to launch on Top Up TV

Setanta Sports and Top Up TV have announced that a subscription version of the channel will be available next year to those with Top Up TV-compatible digibox or digital TV.

The Setanta Sports channel will be offered on a standalone basis which means that sports fans will not have to pay for a basic-tier package when subscribing to Setanta.

Setanta will begin to broadcast live Premiership football in August 2007, but viewers will also be able to watch the US PGA Tour golf, Magners League rugby union, Scottish Premier League matches.

Trevor East, director of sport at Setanta, said: “Our research indicates there is substantial demand for a competitively priced premium sports service among Freeview homes."

Top Up TV is also soon to launch its new "Top Up TV Anytime" service, which gives customers with a Top Up TV Anytime DTR the chance to view programmes from 20 channels, including UKTV Gold, MTV, Nickelodeon, Animal Planet and premium movies from PictureBox.

David Chance, chairman of Top Up TV, said: "As we approach analogue switch off, DTT will become the largest digital TV platform in the UK. Content companies increasingly recognise the need to reach this important constituency.”