Canadians benefit from Setanta’s ‘infotainment’ deal


17 Feb 2004

Setanta Media has fleshed out details of its recently cemented deal with Canadian mobile network Bell Mobility to provide a range of European sports ‘infotainment’ programmes to Bell Mobility’s subscriber base.

Designed specifically for the Canadian sports fan, Mobile EuroSport for Bell Mobility consists of six team, league and sport-specific sites that are accessed through Bell’s Wap-based mobile browser wireless internet service.

The initial launch will consist of UK and European soccer, international golf, F1 racing and international rugby, providing fans with breaking news, up-to-the-minute scores and statistics, team/player profiles, behind the scenes gossip, tables/fixtures and colour photographs on compatible handsets.

“This service allows the thousands of sports fans across Canada easy access to in-depth, knowledgeable, fun commentary and news about their favourite European sports while on the go,” said Frank Cronin, Setanta Media’s CEO.

“We’re already giving Canadian fans the opportunity to watch the best European soccer, rugby, and other sports in a variety of locations nationwide, but now with Bell Mobility, we’re giving them the opportunity for anytime, anywhere access to their game – no matter what their game – right in the palm of their hand.”

Setanta Media, a division of sports broadcaster Setanta Sport, distributes coverage of key sporting events such as European golf, rugby, soccer and Formula 1 to mobile devices. Users can subscribe to a variety of services including live text alerts and daily news alerts or can access web-based information via Wap. Based in Dublin, with satellite offices in London and Vancouver, Setanta Media has an annual turnover of almost €3m and a staff of 25.

In Canada, two of the largest mobile networks – Bell Canada with nine million subscribers and Telus with eight million – now carry Setanta sporting content. A third Canadian customer, pro ice hockey team The Vancouver Canucks, has also selected Setanta as its mobile content provider.

By Brian Skelly