ITN To Produce Setanta Sports News

ITN is to produce Setanta Sports news, the new 24 hour sports news channel jointly owned by Virgin Media and Setanta Sports which is intended to replace the Sky Sports News channel that the broadcaster lost earlier this year (see Sky Anytime? Not For Virgin Media Cable Homes).

The production of Setanta Sports News by ITN will create 56 new editorial and production positions.

The new roles will be based at ITN’s London studios and will also involve a number of video journalist positions based around the UK to cover sporting stories as they break across the country. ITN will be responsible for all daily editorial content.

Virgin Media viewers have been unable to watch Sky Sports News after the satellite broadcaster pulled its basic channel package – including Sky Sports News, Sky News and Sky One – from the Virgin Media platform following a dispute over the pricing of the channels (see Virgin Media And Sky: The Story So Far).

Michael O’Rourke, co-founder of Setanta Sports, said: “We are delighted to appoint ITN at such an exciting time in Setanta’s growth and are very confident that they will bring their expertise in producing rolling news to Setanta Sports News.

“This channel will sit well alongside our other range of sports channels and club TV channels and also delivers on a long held ambition to launch a sports news channel.”

Malcolm Wall, Virgin Media’s CEO of content, said: “We are extremely pleased to be working with ITN to create a powerful new voice in sports TV reporting and expect Setanta Sports News will fast become a favourite with sports fans.

“At Virgin Media, we’re committed to investing in content that our customers love and Setanta Sports News will play a big part in our strategy to bring more great telly to viewers.”

Virgin Media: www.virginmedia.com