SPORTS broadcaster Setanta has pulled the plug on its UK channels after calling in the administrators.
SPORTS broadcaster Setanta has pulled the plug on its UK channels after calling in the administrators.
Setanta axed 200 jobs, over a third of which were in Scotland, as the channels went off-air at 6pm last night.
Customers who will be owed hundreds of thousands of pounds for services not provided were told by administrators Deloitte they would have to line up alongside the other creditors.
Well-known broadcasters Jim Delahunt and Rob McLean, and football pundits John Hartson, the ex-Celtic player, and Scott Booth, ex-Aberdeen, are among staff affected.
Administrator Neville Kahn said: "After a huge effort by the Setanta board, management team and its backers, it has not been possible to save the GB business, which will be wound down in due course."
The move came just 24 hours after the Premier League in England awarded the rights to two packs of live games previously held by Setanta to Disney-owned American sports channel ESPN.
Setanta lost the rights on Friday after failing to make an overdue £10m payment.
The Scottish Premier League was also told on Monday it will not receive a £3m payment due.
Last night viewers were met with a message saying the firm had "ceased trading in Great Britain".
The wind-down of Setanta's British business, which has 420 staff, will mean 200 job losses, administrators Deloitte said.
Setanta's international and Ireland businesses are continuing to trade on air while talks with possible buyers are under way, Deloitte added.
Setanta has 1.2 million subscribers and has suspended the collection of subscription payments from customers in the UK.
A potential rescue deal with American tycoon Len Blavatnik's Access Industries collapsed last week.
Setanta's backers - private equity firms Doughty Hanson and Balderton Capital, and Goldman Sachs - were "prepared to commit substantial additional funds" to the business, in return for an improved performance, the firm said.
Despite progress in renegotiating rights agreements it was not enough to return the firm to profit. Setanta chairman Sir Robin Miller said it was "a sad day for all concerned".
Setanta still holds the rights to other major sporting fixtures including the FA Cup, some England matches, US PGA golf and, from next year, Guinness Premiership rugby.
The English FA will have to auction the rights to FA Cup and England matches to cover a £100m gap in its finances after the administration.
It is understood Setanta has paid only £50m under its £150m four-year deal with the FA.
