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Soccer TV picture in Canada is a bit clearer


The Globe and Mail has an article today that clarifies what is happening with EPL broadcast rights in Canada.

The Score will have first choice of the Sunday game.

Setanta will be launching a specialty channel before August 11th, the EPL season kick off.

Rogers Cable, Cogeco Cable and Bell ExpressVu will carry the channel immediately. Carriage on Shaw Cable, Star Choice and Videotron is expected to take longer.

It may take a few phone calls/emails to your local cable provider to get Setanta as part of your package. And at $15 bucks a month, it’s damn pricey.

Sportsnet will also be carrying a game Saturday mornings, but Setanta will get first choice, so expect to see a lot of Wigan, Reading and Derby on Sportsnet. Still, better than the tap getting shut off completely.

Remember 2 years ago when we had the Saturday triple header and a Sunday game on The Score? Sigh…ah, the good old days.

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July 31st, 2007
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Mark
Posted on:
July 31, 2007 at 2:09 pm

Strongly worded appeal to the SaskTel Max (my TV provider) has been sent. Will keep you posted :-)

Thanks for staying on top of this!

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
The Footie Fool
Posted on:
August 2, 2007 at 7:58 am

No worries, Mark. I’d be interested in knowing if they pick up Setanta. So far, indications out here in Victoria is that Shaw won’t have it until at least the new year.

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Alastair Gillespie
Posted on:
August 3, 2007 at 12:18 pm

My comments to ShawHi,

Like many EPL soccer watchers, I am saddened to hear that Score have chosen to pass on their games to Setanta, which you do not carry.

I have written before asking if this channel will be carried and received a note from Winnipeg stating they had never heard of it

I trust you will please confirm back that you are intending to carry this channel, and advise some sort of time line.

Like many of my friends here, I have your phone, internet and HD television package.

I am willing to pay the additional price required for this, and will many more.

Please do not ask us to look elsewhere

I look forward to your reply

Sincerely

Alastair Gillespie

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
The Footie Fool
Posted on:
August 3, 2007 at 12:34 pm

Hi Alastair. I wrote a similar letter to Shaw yesterday and got this response:
Thank you for taking the time to email us.

We appreciate your concerns and we understand it can be frustrating when networks change their programming as we currently know it. Shaw does not play a part in which programs a network decides to air or not air.

Since we too have just come to learn of the change of programming on Sportsnet with regards to Soccer, we are just beginning to review what options may be available to us, a process which is lengthy, as it is quite involved, with considerations on the technical side and the business side needing extensive consideration.

Should something come available that we can provide, we will let our customers know, but for now, we are not aware of any additional or new services being added at this time.

Hopefully if they here from a lot of EPL footie fans in Western Canada they might fast track the process. But for now, we’re looking SOL here in Victoria, at least for the near future.

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
george scott
Posted on:
August 3, 2007 at 1:30 pm

Type your comment here.
I also have been in touch with shaw-by phone-by e mail-and directly to there office in Wpg. where no-one had heard of Setanta. I was also told there had never been any enquiries about Setanta and they would not be carrying it in the near future.
Get all your soccer friends to bug the heck out of them or next step buy a dish.