Itn Wins Setanta Sports News Contract

ITN has won the exclusive contract to producer all content for Setanta Sports
News, the new channel being launched later this year by Setanta Sports and
Virgin Media.

The contract for the 24-hour news channel will see the creation of 56 new
editorial and production positions at ITN’s London studios. A number of video
journalists, based around the UK, will also be appointed to cover sporting
stories across the country.

ITN picked up the contract after the original production partner, IMG Media’s
production arm TWI, pulled out of the project after failing to agree financial
terms.

The new channel, billed as a rival to Sky Sports News, will have a news focus
on “key sports” such as football, rugby, horse racing, cricket, golf, boxing,
and motor racing.

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.’