25 June 2009
Time has been called on digital TV channel Setanta, leaving its 2.5 million subscribers without access to some of the world's biggest sporting events.
Viewers had paid up to £12.99 a month to see top sporting fixtures such as the FA Cup and England international games, although they are now without the service since the channel went into administration.
"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," said Neville Kahn from Deloitte, one of the joint administrators.
Customers will be able to pay back any of the subscriptions they have already made and the channel said it would no longer be taking payments.
Ofcom recently said that nearly half of TV households in the UK are now choosing pay-for-access for additional channels.