Setanta Broadband has begun coverage of the AFL following the same schedule for live and repeat matches as that of Setanta US. (This was effective with Round 1 of 2008 however Setanta made no public announcement and did not notify AFANA.) This is great news for fans who lost coverage due the demise of ITVN and those who want to view footy via their computers without the issues of the AFL web site. Fans may subscribe at: Setanta Broadband . Viewers in Canada will use the same link as a separate feed for Canada is not yet available. The cost is US$14.99 per month or $149.99 per year. AFANA will be updating our TV pages over the next several days to reflect this very positive development and and make it part of our TV schedules. We will be working with Setanta on ways to get the word out to fans who need to know.
Article last changed on Friday, August 20, 2010 - 8:09 PM EDT
Comments
Setanta Broadband....
<p>Looks like this is my alternative now, and not a bad one....but wondering if anyone has experienced a comparison between the Setanta stream and the old ITVN one?</p> <p> </p> <p>Swans500.</p>
Setanta Stream
I use Setanta to watch both rugby and soccer (can't stay up late enough for footy
). The stream is excellent 99% of the time. As a former ITVN victim--err--subscriber I can say the quality is not quite as good as ITVN's was, but then you could never be sure if you were going to get any signal with them.
One of Setanta's better points is that they have 2 subscription options. You can go yearly for $150 and that gets you everything including PPV events. Or you can go monthly for $15 and that gets you their basic BB offering, which is what their schedule shows. You can quit whenever you like. No contract!
Setanta BB....
I have found it a very strong stream, way more reliable than my continual buffering with ITVN. Very pleased.
Angry with Setanta....
So....paid my $14.99 to Setanta BB, avoided the radio call on Sat morning and didn't look at any Aussie web sites....got up at 3 am Sunday to watch the Swannies. What do I get? Live Rugby 7s until 5.30, a soccer show , then the Adelaiade game.
Now I realise that Rugby is of greater priority to Setanta....BUT, I would have appreciated an apology on screen at some point or an explanation. Nothing, not a mention, so I wait and wait.....still not a mention. Had they done what most networks would do I would have gone back to bed instead of waiting 3 hours before it became clear my game would not be shown despite still being on the schedules list. Surely they would have known the timing of the Rugby comp. It did seem to be running to schedule according to the commentators. Unreal.
Not a frequent event I would hope.
AFANA will be glad to investigate...
...but first some facts, please: what did the online schedule say at that time? [At this moment, the online schedule says Adelade aired at 6:00 AM US EDT - was that the problem match?]. Did it differ from that schedule or the schedule on this site for the match [which also says 6:00 AM US EDT on tape delay]? What time zone are you in? I'll need to know some of this in order to determine if Setanta had a schedule screwup or technical problem etc. When did it start on Setanta Broadband?
Provide whatever you know about this and we will be happy to contact Setanta management if there is an issue to be raised with them. They have been very good about working with us and when technical or scheduling issues occur, working to keep us informed.
Setanta BB.
Thanks. We will contact Setanta.
Thanks, Dennis for the info. Along with another report we received, we will use the info to contact Setanta for an explanation.
Note to all users: if you login first, then your comment shows up under your user id and posts immediately. If you don't it shows up as anonymous and all anonymous comments are held for review before posting so it can be days before anyone reads what you wrote.
Setanta explanation for problem with Brisbane v Sydney
We contacted Setanta and in part, this is what we were told happened: "[We] would like to apologise for the very late change in our schedule on Sunday morning. We were informed on Saturday night that the satellite booking for the live IRB Sevens had been changed and that it was now going to be broadcast at the later time of 02:30 AM. We took the decision to continue with the live Sevens which unfortunately meant we had to air the Brisbane game at an earlier time. Because this change happened so late in the day we hadn’t the resources available to us to make the necessary amendments to our website or EPG listings. [We] would like to apologise again for any frustration and inconvenience caused by this late programming change and ensure you that the necessary steps have been taken to avoid any similar problems arising again."
So it appears this occurred because of a change to a live match and of course, when that happens delayed or repeated airings will inevitably get bumped and that is completely understandable. They did have an internal breakdown in getting the word out and from the statement they are going to correct this. While AFANA is never happy when programs don't air at the expected times it's refreshing when fans get clear explanations and responsibility is taken and for that, we applaud Setanta. I can assure fans that with some of the past networks that carried the AFL this would not have been the case.
Setanta explanation for problem with Brisbane v Sydney
Thanks Admin.....makes sense now, and at least that particular game is listed for repeat tomorrow morning....I will watch it at this point simply because Sydney won, and I have yet to see how the new players are perfoming.
I am still a little nervous about the Swans /Eagles game this coming w/end as Setanta has it on exactly the same delay as last week....so better play it safe and listen to the live radio first....versus Eagles are high points of the season for me.
Dennis James.
Addressing your points on Setanta Broadband
Hi ovalball,
Thanks for the post and a few points:
1. The article clearly says that the schedule will be the same as Setanta USA. That means whenever the matches are on the satellite distributed channels they will be on broadband. And live matches, because the originating network in Australia times them for domestic audiences, are therefore on during the night on the US east coast. So, it goes without saying that if that is a disadvantage for you on Setanta USA or Canada, it will be true for Broadband, too.
2. AFANA thinks this is a very positive development. We realize that it doesn't meet the needs of every fan in every situation. You only have to read the posts we have elsewhere to understand that we are working with Setanta to see they get wider distribution. However, if you want live coverage (and our fan surveys from 1996 onwards said that was the number one priority of footy fans) then you have to live with the time issues. The solution for us would be for Setanta to retime the repeats.
3. There are lots of ways to capture the video including feeding it from your PC to your TV and then capturing it. That's not trivial technically but I bet there are fans here working at it right now. ;-)
4. As our TV FAQ said (before being revised for this development), the issue with video via Setanta Broadband or ESPN360 or similiar services was (and still is) the exclusivity clause that Telstra Bigpond has on AFL video via the net. The loophole that made ITVN possible was that it was a relay of the "broadcast" channel. With the demise of ITVN, I assume that provided the same opening for Setanta -- so long as it was a "relay of the broadcast" channel. And that brings us back to the first point above. AFANA is always working with the AFL and it's TV partners to make the footy more available. While we can't take credit for this development, I am sure our discussions over time didn't hurt.
Hope this clarifies the situation for everyone.
Setanta & TV
I have badgered Time Warner so much about Setanta by both email and print that they probably have me on a terrorist watch list by now.
Newer computers (not mine) have an "out" feed on their video cards. I don't think it's much of a challenge to take that to your TV or even to a DVD-R. Even with older machines there are cables/boxes you can buy that will accomplish the same. I just haven't gotten to that point.
I'm still counting on my mates at afl.com.au.
BTW, watched Rich/Kang yesterday. No runs, no drips, no errors.
setanta broadband
Hello Rob,
Greetings from Pittsburgh! Glad to see about this broadband offer from Setanta. I'm gonna get it! I almost got that ITVN last year but heard of problems off and on so didn't think it was worth it. Did ITVN go out of business or something? Anyways don't know if you remember me we met in Etna with Mel Eperthner at some club where we watched a Grand Final can't remember the year but it was Essendon and Melbourne. You ever hear from Mel anymore? I've lost touch with him. Also, I've been looking on the website for the Top Four Competition and can't find it! I'd like to see what everyone's score is if they are posted yet. At one time they had the all-time scores as well. Please help if you can. Thanks!!
Don Lutes, Jr.
Monongahela, PA
Re: Setanta Broadband
Hi Don,
Yes, ITVN ran out of cash and closed. Good idea but not a good business plan.
I remember meeting you and watching the Grand Final, must have been about 10 years ago now. No, I haven't heard from Mel in many years and I know several people have tried to find him. Heard that he was up in Buffalo awhile, and perhaps out in California but no one knows for sure where he is now.
The Top 4 comp is reachable by the front page article or look under "Talking Footy" on the top level drop down menu. The comp manager this year hasn't yet got the results web page set up. The all time standings aren't posted since I haven't updated them in several years. One of these days I will get to it. It's a chore that sits low on my priority list now.
Glad to have you along on the site.
EPL on Setanta
Please forgive me for asking this question on your site but I noticed you get quick replies from Setanta. I live in the Caribbean (Trinidad) and don't get Setanta on Directv. I am new to Setanta BB but before I order I wanted to find out a few questions. A couple of weeks ago they showed the Chelsea vs ManU game on Setanta PPV but when I checked the listing online that game wasn't there. I also noticed on the entire EPL listings they did not have any of the "big" games. Can you tell me if I subscribe for the whole year if I will be getting these "big" games? Also would I be able to even access Setanta BB in the Caribbean? Sorry if my questions seem silly.
Setanta Broadband
Unfortunately, we don't know much about the EPL arrangements. However, it is a fair guess that PPV matches are treated differently than matches on their "over the air" networks. Your best bet is to contact Setanta directly thru their web site and ask the question or check on one of the many US soccer specific sites. I would think that you could access Setanta Broadband from the Carribean but if they have blocks to exclude non US and non Canadian users that might not be the case.
Also, please enter a valid e-mail address on your site account if you wish to continue to access this site -- it's a requirement of our terms of use.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman and Site Admin
Hey Rob, Thanks for your
Hey Rob,
Thanks for your quick reply. I changed my e-mail address and it should meet the terms & conditions. I'll contact Setanta and let you know what they say because I'm sure you might get this question sometime again in the future. Football is afterall a universal game loved by many.
Cheers!
Donald.
Does anyone know if they will carry AFL games in the archives
Travis Tarrant
I have just started my subscription to Setanta Broadband today and was curious if anyone knew if they would eventually offer AFL matches in their archives section since they do carry rugby, soccer and the GAA. Is there some conflict of interest with with the AFL and the NRL's coverage which is already provided on their respective websites?
RE: Does anyone know if they will carry AFL games...
Hi Travis,
No, we don't know but in the near term I suspect that is unlikely since I don't think they have "perpetual" rights to the matches beyond the current calendar year or the life of the contract. It is possible that in the off season you might see repeats of matches from the current or very recent times. They don't have access or rights to video of the period prior to their first AFL coverage in 2006 and I am not aware of any intention on their part to seek such rights.
As noted elsewhere in this comment thread, the AFL has an exclusive deal with Telstra to produce their web site and distribute video thru that site and no other web site is permitted to do it. This precludes AFANA and Setanta from offering such live or delayed video. Setanta Broadband uses a loophole that exists in this. They "relay" the broadcast channel and as long as they do so and limit access to subscribers they are OK. The Telstra deal runs thru 2011. We also have a TV FAQ question and answer on this topic.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman and Site Admin
AFANA link?
great news, i'm going to sign up for the setanta broadband feed. i know sometimes afana gets credit for when your members sign up for various services...is there a link you'd like us to use to sign up for the setanta coverage or should i just go to their site and do it without credit to afana?
Thanks for the request
Unfortunately, there isn't a special link for Setanta Broadband at this time. If you click from this web site though that helps as they will know we were the referring site.
Cheers,
-Rob
AFANA Chairman and Site Admin
Setanta mystify me....
For several weeks Setanta had scheduled Swans v Port for midnight Fri 23rd....being a Sydney fan I looked forward to it, but on checking again today I find that the game has been replaced by the previously shown Coll/Geel match.....which will also be shown for a THIRD time this weekend on Sunday!!!! The Swans game is now scheduled for 3 am Tuesday....meaning that they DO have it.....weird programming. And annoying.10
Dennis James.
Nothing mysterious
I don't know why they made the change but from the info I have it looks as if the feed start was pushed back to 1:00 AM EDT and that meant they could no longer get it in the window they had. I can inquire to be sure but honestly, it seems like a small (granted, an annoying) issue. We posted the schedule change on Wednesday the 21st when we received it. We've received several e-mails about it. The Collingwood v Geelong match is the only logical fill in they can use at that point in time. (What else should they do? they have only aired that one match this round so far).
Schedules do not represent "guarantees" much as we'd all like them to. I can further speculate why the change was made, it might be a technical issue with the feed (remember, they don't originate these programs) or a problem at the source network or any of a dozen things including multiple feeds they have to take at that hour or many other things.
Setanta is better about this than previous networks ever were. If, over the course of 22 rounds, 4 weeks of preseason, and 4 weeks of finals, they do this just 3 or so times, I’m happy. If this was a critical match late in the year, I would be on them about it. Right now, I might find it annoying but I can’t be too critical. If it became a weekly habit, I'd waste no time is raising the issue with Setanta and the AFL.
In the days when we got one hour of highlights a week and ESPN moved it 2 hours before for silly reasons, I justifiably criticized them for it. So, with perspective, this is 1.5 on a 1 to 5 scale with 5 being sc**wing up the Grand Final.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman and Site Admin
Nothing mysterious
LOL....fair enough, I'm over it now, and thanks for your explanations and possibilities.
Dennis.
As a current Setanta Broadband subscriber I would just add that you might want to check the schedule before jumping on board.
(Ed. note: link removed as no longer working)
[Ed. note: we would much prefer if you would use the schedules on this site... thank you! :-) ]
The Setanta service is very good (600 kbps). However, being mainly a soccer/rugby provider, Setanta puts even rerun AFL matches on in the middle of the night (EST). That may work on the left coast, but doesn't for me here in NC---and I'm not in to "capturing".
Addtionally, while Setanta offers VOD (at 300kbps) for much of its material, it does not do so for the AFL. So, if you're not "up" to watch the initial broadcast, forget it.
That being said this is still a positive development, so those of you for whom the shoe fits---put it on!
BTW, I asked months ago about the AFL and Setanta BB told me they had no plans to offer it. Obviously, things change rapidly in this field.