One-time minnow channel will try to raid BBC and Sky for big names
For years, it was a service for Irish expats to catch up on the sporting fixtures back home. But Setanta Sports last week pulled off a once-unthinkable coup - after teaming up with ITV - of snatching the live rights to FA Cup and England matches from under the noses of the biggest players in UK broadcasting, the BBC and Sky. Now, with its aggressive expansion in full swing, the one-time minnow network is expected to start on a multimillion-pound signing spree to bolster its on-screen presenting team. The raids are expected to be reminiscent of the days when ITV beat the BBC to Premiership coverage and swiftly persuaded Des Lynam to defect to the commercial network when the loss of the rights effectively put BBC1’s Match of the Day on the bench for a lengthy spell.Find your new car on new.co.uk
