Setanta Sports to air 73 hours of coverage in Ireland

Setanta’s live coverage starts on Wednesday (29 August) at 19:30 with a three-hour broadcast of the Opening Ceremony.

With just four days until the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics Games, Setanta Sports announced details of their live coverage in Ireland.

In total, Setanta will show over 70 hours of live coverage from the Paralympic Games and on a free to air basis, which is more than ever before.

At the Beijing 2008, Games there was no live coverage available to Irish viewers.

All the coverage will be on the Setanta Ireland channel and will be hosted by Stephen Cullinane. In his company, will be a panel of Paralympians and Olympians to commentate and provide analysis. These include:

Derek Malone – three-time Paralympian and bronze medallist Athens 2004 (800m)

Melanie Nocher – 2012 Olympian

Olive Loughnane – 2012 Olympian

Barry Murphy – 2012 Olympian

Martin Gillingham – Commentator athletics

Will Downing – Commentator athletics & swimming

Pierce O’Callaghan – Co-commentator athletics

Declan Quigley – Commentator cycling

Hugh Byrne – Co-commentator cycling

Brian Quinn, Marketing Director of Setanta Sports, said: “We are delighted to be showing the Games on a free to air basis and we are making every effort to show as many of the Irish performances as possible. Our ambition is to have the widest possible audience tuning in to get behind Team Ireland.

“To achieve this Setanta are not charging subscriptions to watch the games so anyone switching on Channel 423 on SKY, or Channel 105 on UPC will be able to view for free.

Setanta’s live coverage starts on Wednesday (29 August) at 19:30 with a three-hour broadcast of the Opening Ceremony. On Monday (27 August) at 21:45 Setanta Ireland will show Beyond Limits, an hour-long documentary produced by Athena Media which charts the preparation of a number of Irish Aahletes as they get ready to compete.