At midnight on 31st July, Setanta Sports (including BT Sports) will no longer feature in our Virgin Media TV channels.With the number of live Premier League matches on Setanta Sports being cut from 71 to 42 for 2016/17, we've been in talks with the broadcaster to review the value you get in this pack. As it was not possible to agree terms to allow us to offer you Setanta Sports at a reasonable price, we'll no longer carry the channels from the end of this month.
Here at Harpin Manor we're not so sure this has to do with the price being charged by the broadcaster. We reckon it has a lot more to do with the fact that it is no longer called Setanta Sports - it is now Eir Sports, as in it is run by Eir (formerly Eircom, formerly Telecom Eireann) a rival provider of cable TV to Virgin.
Basically what this means is that if you get your cable from Virgin, you will not be able to access the full complement of televised Rugby Champions Cup coverage this season.
This will definitely include matches like Connacht v Wasps, Leinster v Northampton, Ulster v Exeter and Leicester v Munster, since BT Sports get first dibs on the Premiership clubs. It also rules out all coverage of the Premiership itself.
Just sayin. Oh and we might also add that since our inception in 2008 we have always been called Harpin’ On Rugby. JLP
