ITN wins Setanta Sports News contract

[BGonaSTICK]

News provider ITN has won a contract to produce Setanta Sports News, the 24-hour digital channel jointly owned by cable operator Virgin Media and Irish sports broadcaster Setanta. Setanta Sports News will be available to Virgin Media's 3m digital subscribers later this year.

The deal - financial terms were not disclosed - will see the creation of 56 new editorial and production positions at ITN's London studios. The channel will also deploy video journalists around the UK to cover sporting stories as they break.

ITN will be responsible for all daily editorial content. 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."

Malcolm Wall, Virgin Media's CEO of content, said: "We are extremely pleased to be working with ITN to create a powerful new voice in sports TV reporting and expect Setanta Sports News will fast become a favourite with sports fans."

Last week Virgin Media was said to be considering an entry to the rolling news channel market, using ITN as content partner.

Source: dtg