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Damn You Setanta!

September 6th, 2008 | By: Daryl | 8 Comments »

Older fans will remember when every England game was on the BBC. For free. At the very worst it was on ITV and you had to sit through some adverts at halftime. Then Sky Sports came along and things got a bit hairy. You either had to get a Sky subscription (and a Sky Sports subscription) or know someone who did to watch a game. But after a while pretty much everyone had Sky so it was sort of OK. Although it was weird hearing Andy Gray commentate on England games with his Scottish accent.

But then Setanta came along. And this weekend, if you’re in either the USA or in England, then you need a Setanta Sports subscription (and in at least one case to pay the special PPV charge) to see England’s World Cup qualifiers versus Andorra and Croatia.

Not good. Because as far as I know, the majority of people don’t have a Setanta Sports subscription. I don’t know how much Setanta paid the FA for the rights, but I hope it was worth it because I’m not a happy bunny right now. And I’m guessing plenty other Setanta-less England fans are feeling the same way.

So, quick straw poll (but using PollDaddy instead of straws). How many people reading this blog will actually be able to watch the games on TV this Saturday and Wednesday?

psst, don’t tell anyone, but if it gets desperate you can always turn to the Chinese internet pirates….

Tags: Andorra, BBC, Croatia, England, ITV, Setanta, Sky Sports, television, World Cup 2010, World Cup qualifiers

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Comments

By Jim | September 6th, 2008 at 11:59 am

And the reason we care is…..?

Come on. Honestly. Who in their right mind wants to watch that shower of whinging, overpaid, mercenary serial-bottlers spit yet again on the hopes and dreams of a nation? The awarding of the captaincy to John Terry, a swaggering thug of a bully, possessed of a belief in his divine right to intimidate referees, was the last straw: but the truth is, not one of them are fit to wear the shirt. England footballers used to inspire and excite young people to excellence, to glory, to honour. Now they inspire our children to spit-roasting, demanding excessive amounts of money for their very limited charms and rolling around on the floor feigning injury. It is entirely appropriate that England games should be tucked away on a minority channel that few of us have access to. It is the place they deserve to be.

Posted from United Kingdom

By j | September 6th, 2008 at 1:08 pm

Jim - thanks for saying that. I know many won’t understand but I appreciate your fire for what the game truly means. For me, while I am watching the match, its not just that I’m bordered with the Masters squad but the lack of honour wearing the shirt.

Posted from Bulgaria

By Bluey | September 7th, 2008 at 2:49 am

Really disappointing.
I hope Setanta didnt get a rush of subs on the back of taking an england game.
Like you say it wasnt long ago when games such as these were on the bbc/itv. In fact they *had* to be aired in some form on the terrestrial channels, how things have changed.

By shane | September 7th, 2008 at 5:10 am

Fyi england games have been on ppv since 2000 on setanta in the us. England is new but soccer is big business in the uk.nothing new in the us.I guess they cost a lot! It would be nice if they were free but then again the players would have to take a pay cut and I can’t see that happening. They all make silly money and broadcast rights pay for it. It all comes back around.
Such is live in the soccer world

Posted from Canada

By engerling | September 8th, 2008 at 3:05 am

I live in Germany and find it scandalous we can’t watch the games, but I feel sorry for the older people more so as it is difficult for them to eke their money out as is. I read the German newspaper this morning, they think it is amazing that the Motherland of football is doing this to the most loyal fans in the World, that old people, children to name but a few will not be able to watch their Nations World Cup Qualifying games. I have flown the flag through many heated discussion but this time it has to be all white.

Posted from Germany

By SaintPaul | September 9th, 2008 at 8:30 am

OK so we all whinge about our TV licence fee go up and up and then complain when the BBC can’t afford to televise the England games, the BBC are now obligated to keep the licence fee to a reasonable level and simply can’t compete with the likes of Setanta, if everyone in England was happy to pay a couple of extra quid a year this may change, but we all want something for nothing these days, why do you think we end up with Indian call centres and then complain about them, but if they were in the UK and offered a better service we would have to pay extra for it and it’s exactly the same with the BBC.

As they say ‘you get what you pay for’

Posted from United Kingdom

By Michael | September 9th, 2008 at 2:02 pm

The FA should be charged with “bringing the game into disrepute” for selling England games to the highest bidder and taking the national game away from the grass roots fans. A disgrace. The FA will only waste the money they “earned” by firing overpaid managers with ridiculous contract terms and taking FA officials on numerous jollies.

By Rob | September 10th, 2008 at 5:56 am

I had no idea Setanta had got the England games. I had the pleasant surprise of sitting down to watch England, beer in one hand and remote control in another, having just had the usual pre-match argument with the wife after I took control of the TV, only to find I can’t watch it. I already pay a fortune to Sky (HD/Multi-room/etc) and my BBC license fee only to find I need to pay another £13 a month for Setanta! Its a joke!
What possible advantage does Setanta bring to people that watch football on TV? Its just another company jumping on the bandwagon to fleece us for more money.
I’ll probably end up cancelling Sky Sports altogether because I really can’t afford to pay any more.

Posted from United Kingdom

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