Arsenal TV Goes Live on Setanta Sports
-New channel for Arsenal fans launches on satellite channel 423-
11th January 2008: Setanta Sports and Arsenal Football Club have announced the official launch date of Arsenal TV - Monday 14th January 2008 from 5.00pm. The occasion will be marked with a special free-to-air programme ‘Arsenal Question Time’ featuring the manager, Arsene Wenger and hosted by Des Lynam OBE, which will broadcast from 6.30pm till 7.30pm.
Arsenal TV, broadcast on satellite channel 423, will show six hours of Club-related programming every week between 5pm and 11pm, including regular bulletins from the Emirates Stadium, full match action from EVERY first team match - on a delayed basis, every reserve match LIVE, exclusive interviews with Arsene Wenger and countless classic moments from Arsenal’s illustrious history.
The announcement, which marks the start of a six-year deal between Setanta and Arsenal Football Club, adds yet another string to Setanta’s impressive broadcasting bow, making a subscription to the Setanta Sports pack a must have for Gunners fans. The channel will also be launching on the Virgin Media platform later in 2008.
Setanta Sports co-founder and joint Chief Executive, Michael O’Rourke, said, “This is another fantastic step for Setanta Sports and once again confirms our on going passion to deliver the best in sporting entertainment to those who want it most - the fans.”
Keith Edelman, Managing Director of Arsenal FC, said, “Arsenal TV is another positive step forward for Arsenal Football Club. Giving our fans an insight into the team they love is very important to us and, by linking with Setanta, we can do exactly that.”
‘Arsenal Question Time’ hosted by Des Lynam will mark the launch of Arsenal TV with guests including Arsene Wenger, Martin Keown, Ray Parlour and star of Little Britain, Matt Lucas. The format of the exclusive free-to-air show will see an audience of Arsenal fans posing questions to the all-star panel. The show will be simulcast on Setanta Sports 1 and Arsenal TV.
Further to this launch special the first week of Arsenal TV highlights include:
- The first episode of “Bob Wilson Meets …”, where the former Arsenal goalkeeper interviews another former gunner’s stars. This week sees Bob talking to Paul Merson
- A full round up from the Arsenal Ladies and Academy squads
- The first in a series of classic Arsenal matches including, the last ever game at Highbury
- The weekend’s match against Birmingham in the first of a regular ‘Action Replay’ slot
Current Setanta subscribers will receive Arsenal TV for no additional cost, as part of the Setanta Sports pack, making the current £9.99 monthly subscription even better value for money. The addition of Arsenal TV means subscribers will now get ten channels for just £9.99 a month on satellite channel 423.
-ends-
For further information, please contact: James Matheson or Richard Tompkins at braben on 020 7566 2990 or james@braben.co.uk / richardt@braben.co.uk
Notes To Editors:
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports is a leading international pay-TV sports broadcaster operating nine channels in the UK, Ireland, North America and Australia. Founded in 1992, its premium sports content is available to more than 50 million digital homes worldwide.
Setanta operates more sports channels than any other broadcaster in the UK and Ireland. Setanta Sports is the most widely-available premium sports channel in the UK and is available to all digital homes: on satellite, via Freeview, Virgin Media, Tiscali, BT Vision and by Broadband, ensuring the widest possible distribution to all sports fans.
Setanta Sports is the only broadcaster of premium sports on digital terrestrial (Freeview). The Setanta Sports 1 channel, featuring the best of Setanta’s premium live content, is available on Freeview boxes and digital TVs with viewing card slots.
The Setanta Sports Pack is available to satellite and cable customers and is made up of the following channels:
Setanta Sports 1
Setanta Sports 2
Setanta Golf
Racing UK
Racing World*
NASN (North American Sports Network)*
Celtic TV
Rangers TV
LFC TV
Arsenal TV*
Setanta Sports is also available online, live and on demand, via Setanta by Broadband, featuring all Setanta’s leading content offered on Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Sports 2 and Setanta Golf, allowing sports fans to access at home, work or elsewhere.
For a full list of Setanta Sports’ exclusively live sporting content and fixture details, please www.setanta.com. Content includes Barclays Premier League Football, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, Blue Square Premier, US PGA Golf, Live Magners League rugby, top-flight boxing, Ultimate Fighting Championship and action from some of Europe’s best football leagues. From 2008, Setanta’s exclusively live content will include the FA Cup, England international friendlies and 2010 World Cup qualifiers involving England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Setanta Sports is available from £9.99 a month, with no annual contract required. For the latest pricing offers on any platform, please visit www.setanta.com or call 08712 00 33 22.
Setanta Sports is also joint owner with Virgin Media of Setanta Sports News, the new 24-hour sports news channel, available free-to-air on the Virgin Media platform, and also on satellite, covering all the top sports stories from the UK and abroad. Setanta Sports News provides viewers with the breaking sports headlines that matter every 20 minutes, delivered by a pool of presenters and multi-skilled reporters in the field, as well as supported by regular views and opinions from fan correspondents across the UK. Setanta Sports News EPG number on Virgin Media is 518. The satellite EPG number is 435.
*not available to Virgin Media customers