Setanta US steps up Eredivisie programming with triple-bill on Sunday

15 January: Setanta US has scheduled a landmark broadcast day this coming Sunday, with three major Eredivisie clashes on a single day: this first-ever triple-bill begins at 4:45 am Eastern US, with a delayed broadcast of Excelsior vs. Feyenoord (played Friday evening), followed by a live showing of VVV Venlo vs. PSV at 6:30 am, and capped off with NEC vs. Ajax (same-day-delayed) at 11pm Eastern. (See update, below.)

[Visit Ajax USA's TV page for the complete schedule.]

Setanta US, a division of Setanta Sports, has dramatically increased the amount of Dutch Eredivisie programming on their schedule during the 2007-2008 season. The premium-cable channel has offered, on average, one Eredivisie game per week, plus a 60 minute Eredivisie highlight program at midweek. The highlight program features condensed summaries of each of the previous weekend's games. More recently, Setanta US has increased the number of live games (typically broadcast at 6:30 am Eastern US on Sundays), and has even shown more than one game per weekend on occasion.

Update 20 January: The NEC vs. Ajax, which had been listed as a same-day-delay broadcast at 11pm Eastern on Sunday, and repeated on Monday and Wednesday mornings, has disappeared completely from Setanta's on-line schedule. Most unfortunate for Ajax fans, and fairly annoying that Setanta's schedule is so fickle.

About Setanta Sports

Setanta Sports was co-founded by Michael O'Rourke and Leonard Ryan after the pair were unable to view live coverage in London of the Ireland v Holland World Cup clash in 1990. They negotiated broadcasting rights and put the event on in Ealing. The event was a success, and Setanta Sports was born.

From Setanta.com: The word 'Setanta' is taken from one of Ireland's great heroes, 'Cúchulainn', which means the 'hound of Cullan'. As a child, this great hero's name was 'Setanta' meaning 'the little'. He was given the name Cúchulainn when he killed the fearsome watchdog of the smith Cullan, by hitting a sliotar (the small ball used in hurling) down the animal's throat. Having killed the watchdog, he undertook to guard Cullan's house in place of the hound. [Read more about Setanta's history.]

Read Setanta US' on-line schedule here. Ajax USA will also continue to report upcoming Setanta broadcasts of Dutch Eredivisie games and highlight programs on our TV and Video page, where you can also learn about Ajax on TV in other countries, and about finding Ajax on the Internet. (Jim McGough)