Fate of TV sports network Setanta in the balance

Troubled TV sports network Setanta is desperately seeking a rescue package to stave off administration. The Irish-owned company is reportedly due to make a £30 million payment to the English Premier League later this week, but backers refuse to advance it any more money. The Daily Mirror reports that Setanta has tried to broker a deal with rivals Sky, in which the latter company would advance a significant sum and gain the rights to share broadcast rights of Setanta's 46 Premier League matches next season. However, Sky's CEO Jeremy Darroch said it was 'a broadcaster not a bank'. ESPN is reportedly favourite to take over management of Setanta if it goes into administration, which remains a real threat. Last week, Setanta failed to pay the Scottish Premier League its final £3 million payment for the 2008/9 season. Currently, prospective Setanta subscribers can't sign up online, with an 'Ooops!' message flashing up if it's attempted. Setanta said the service was unavailable for 'technical reasons'.

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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.