Setanta Sports Announces Road to the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) Programming

Setanta Sports Announces Road to the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) Programming

-- America's Newest Sports Network to Feature Extensive Programming Leading Up To the World's Most Popular Single Sports Event --

SAN FRANCISCO, April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Setanta Sports, America's newest sports TV network, today announced its road to the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) line-up: extensive FIFA World Cup(TM) soccer programming along with World Cup(TM) qualifiers and international friendlies, all leading up to the start of the tournament on June 9. The line-up premieres May 1 and airs daily through the summer. Major rights of FIFA Archive programming were acquired through Swiss-based Infront Sports & Media which handles the global sales of all broadcast rights for the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) worldwide.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060419/CLW020)

The Setanta Sports line-up features primetime archive and official films of past FIFA World Cups(TM), encores of qualifying matches, and action from all of the nations competing in this year's much-anticipated event. All the programs will air in English. Setanta Sports is a pay network on DIRECTV (Channel 615).

Setanta Sports previously announced its acquisition of secondary-language TV rights in the US to all 64 of the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) games. The games will air in the German language on Setanta Sports, 56 of them LIVE and uninterrupted, eight of them delayed (due to two or more games being played at the same time in different venues.) These eight games will be shown LIVE in US pubs and bars through the company's commercial business, Setanta Premium. Setanta is also entitled to sublicense parts of the secondary-language TV rights acquired.

Setanta's 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) line-up includes:

Live and Delayed Warm-up Matches (exclusive to Setanta Sports)- As the
2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) draws nearer there will be a series of "Friendly"
games where nations will look to bed in squad players and lift confidence
before the tournament starts. Setanta Sports viewers will see matches
involving Brazil, England, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Poland, Czech
Republic and Switzerland.

Encores of International Qualifying Matches (exclusive to Setanta Sports)
- Setanta Sports will rebroadcast 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) qualifying
games and other matches played by most of the competing nations including
Brazil, Germany, Italy, Holland, England, Spain, Argentina and Portugal.

The following FIFA Archive programming was acquired from Infront Sports & Media:

The 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) - The Official Guide - This is an exclusive
series of 16 half-hour programs which preview the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM)
through an exciting blend of originally shot material, key archival
moments, match footage from qualifiers, and other innovative feature
based content. Each episode will feature two of the participating
nations.

The FIFA World Cup(TM) Film Collection 1954 - 2002 - The past comes to
life, with the depth of coverage, close-up intimacy and dramatic
perspective that is unique to film - the greatest archive source of the
magic and unforgettable moments of FIFA World Cup(TM) history are
featured in these 13 one-hour specials.

Up to 100 vignettes from the A-Z of FIFA World Cup(TM) Football - This
series consists of one hundred 60-second vignettes of the most
spectacular action from exclusive film footage from the 1954 through to
the 2002 FIFA World Cups(TM). These capture varied and exciting aspects
of the world's greatest event.

The Top 20 FIFA World Cup(TM) Moments - This is a count down, in reverse
order of the top 20 FIFA World Cup(TM) moments of all time. Seventeen
tournaments in 72 years of competition have produced so many thrilling
and memorable moments that this selection helps to capture the very
essence of World Cup magic.

FIFA World Cup(TM) Stories - This is a series of six half-hour programs
which take a series of intriguing angles to provide new insight into some
of the most fascinating stories in FIFA World Cup(TM) history. The
individual titles are: "Holland's Quest", "African Odyssey", "Young
Shooting Stars", "FIFA World Cup(TM) Shocks", "Golden Boot Legends", and
"Penalty Shoot-Out!"

The 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) kicks off on June 9 with the host country Germany against Costa Rica.

Setanta Sports is a 24-hour, English-language, pay TV network dedicated to European and international soccer and world-class rugby. This year, the network will broadcast over 500 LIVE and exclusive events including matches from the UEFA Champions League and other top soccer tournaments. Setanta Sports has exclusive distribution rights in North America to programming from Manchester United TV (MUTV) and Chelsea TV.

Setanta Broadband launched in February 2006 and features LIVE rugby and soccer. Fans can sign up for $119 a year or monthly for $11.99.

Setanta Premium operates the residential pay-per-view business and the commercial business which consists of special event, LIVE programming in pubs and other venues in the US and Canada.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060419/CLW020
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Setanta Sports

CONTACT: Gillian Renault, +1-404-378-7259, or cell, +1-678-662-4746, or
Gillian@renaultpr.com; or Becky Peterson, +1-678-566-3135, or
bpetepr@bellsouth.com; or Joerg Polzer, 011-41-417231705, or
joerg.polzer@infrontsports.com, all for Setanta Sports

Web site: http://www.setanta.com/usa

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