Setanta EPG slots up for sale

Setanta’s nine channel slots on the BSkyB digital satellite platform have been put up for sale, with administrator Deloitte appointing Canis Media to oversee the procedure.

The channels slots, which broadcast Setanta News, Setanta Golf, Racing UK, Racing World, and the Arsenal, Celtic and Rangers TV channels, could make up to £9 million.

Ed Hall, chief executive of Canis Media, said: “There are numerous positions available, but the clock is ticking. Sports broadcasters should obviously be looking very closely at the EPG to see how a channel move could help them.

“Other broadcasters should look carefully too, as these positions can potentially be moved to other genres, subject to agreement with BSkyB.”

In 2007, BSkyB said it would stop adding new channels to its EPG due to memory constraints on many Sky boxes.

Following that decision, EPG slots have to be bought direct from BSkyB or channel operators via firms such as Canis Media.