Pubs ponder compensation over Setanta

Licensees paying Sky for Setanta channels are still trying to find out whether they could receive compensation after the demise of the Irish broadcaster.

The British arm of Setanta went into administration this week, meaning a number of its channels will no longer be available in the UK through Sky - including Setanta Sports News, Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Sports 2 and Setanta Golf.

American network ESPN has bought the rights to the package of 46 Premier League games that Setanta had, but pubs will still receive these through Sky's Ultimate package.

But Nigel Jones, licensee at the Railway Hotel, in Blandford Forum, Dorset, has paid his monthly Sky fee in advance, up to July 18, which covered all the Setanta channels.

"I have paid for these channels but I won't be able to screen them," he said.

Jones pays around £1,600 a month for two Sky Ultimate packages, using around 20 screens to show a variety of sport.

He added: "I want a clear statement from them (Sky) or a credit note."

A spokeswoman for Sky said pubs would receive the ESPN Premier League games "without interruption".

"In the meantime, Sky Ultimate also offers access to a range of other channels including Sky Sports Xtra, British Eurosport 1, British Eurosport 2, ESPN Classic, ESPN America, MUTV, Chelsea TV, Real Madrid TV and Sky 1," she added.

"While there's no immediate impact on prices, we'll take all relevant factors into account as part of our review of prices for next season."

However Virgin Media, which has more than 1.8 million domestic customers who watch Setanta through its pay-TV packages said it would compensate customers who paid extra for the right to watch Setanta.

Meanwhile, the 2,350 pubs which subscribe to horse racing channel Racing UK will be unaffected by the collapse of Setanta, the company said.