Endemol may help Setanta

June 14, 2009 Global reality programmer Endemol is thought to be part of a consortium led by Russian-born tycoon Leonid Blavatnik in last-minute talks to bail out ailing pay TV sports programmer Setanta Sports. Endemol chief executive Ynon Kreiz was the partner at venture capital firm Benchmark Capital who originally backed Setanta -- the sports channel business founded by Irish entrepreneurs Leonard Ryan and Michael O'Rourke -- five years ago. Setanta won only one of the six live Premier League rights in the most recent rights auction in February, leaving the business struggling to retain subscribers and add new ones.

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