Setanta offers IPTV service to UK university students

by Fiona Ramsay, Media Week 01-Sep-08, 13:10

LONDON - Sports broadcaster Setanta has signed a deal with IPTV service provider Inuk to broadcast its service to students at more than 40 universities in the UK.

The Inuk service allows students to watch more than 50 TV channels on their PCs through the UK university data network, Janet, which connects all UK universities.

For a £9.99 monthly subscription, students will be offered a Freewire Extra package, adding subscription channels such as Setanta Sports, as well as channels from other broadcasters including MTV and FX.

More than 40,000 people are now receiving digital television through Inuk's Freewire TV IPTV service.

Dwyer McCaughley, Setanta director of distribution and advertising, said Setanta "wants new platform partners" particularly in the broadband and mobile market, after securing distribution deals with all of the major UK pay TV platforms.