England fans will get to see free-to-air highlights of England's World Cup qualifying match with Croatia tonight, after rights holder Setanta decided to broadcast the action unecrypted after its live coverage.
Setanta's move to show free-to-air highlights of the match comes after a stand-off with terrestrial broadcasters over a rights deal that has lasted several days, since before England's opening World Cup qualifier against Andorra on Saturday.
The Irish pay-TV company failed to reach a deal despite ITV doubling its highlights offer to £500,000 in 11th hour negotiations today.
Offers from the BBC and Channel 4 thought to be around £250,000 had already been rejected by Setanta, which was looking for closer to £1m.
It is understood that Setanta has secured deals to air an unencrypted highlights show tonight across Freeview's digital terrestrial TV service, Virgin Media's cable network and BSkyB's digital satellite offering, that will run from 10.45pm to 12.30pm.
Setanta will air highlights of Scotland's World Cup qualifier first, followed by England's match.
In the meantime, watch our para olympians do us proud on beeb 2 Wonder if Mr Brown will be there to greet these when they return? Amazing stuff, talk about courage, determination and skill.
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Setanta's move to show free-to-air highlights of the match comes after a stand-off with terrestrial broadcasters over a rights deal that has lasted several days, since before England's opening World Cup qualifier against Andorra on Saturday.
The Irish pay-TV company failed to reach a deal despite ITV doubling its highlights offer to £500,000 in 11th hour negotiations today.
Offers from the BBC and Channel 4 thought to be around £250,000 had already been rejected by Setanta, which was looking for closer to £1m.
It is understood that Setanta has secured deals to air an unencrypted highlights show tonight across Freeview's digital terrestrial TV service, Virgin Media's cable network and BSkyB's digital satellite offering, that will run from 10.45pm to 12.30pm.
Setanta will air highlights of Scotland's World Cup qualifier first, followed by England's match.
Wonder if Mr Brown will be there to greet these when they return?
Amazing stuff, talk about courage, determination and skill.