Broadcaster Setanta Sports has unveiled its line-up for the upcoming football season, and looks set to provide genuine competition to television giant BSkyB.

As well as poaching Sky Sports’ former deputy managing director Trevor East, Setanta has assembled a punditry team that includes Steve McManaman, Les Ferdinand and Tim Sherwood, as well as ITV’s Angus Scott as its main anchor. This influx of young talent will be balanced by the experience of Des Lynam who has signed up for an interview-based show once a week, and to be the face of Setanta’s advertising campaigns.

Sky says it is happy with its presenting team. “Quality and innovation are at our core,” a spokesman said. “We welcome the competition and we are screening more live Premier League matches then we ever have before.”

The recent rights war that broke out between Sky and Setanta has resulted in a record £2.7bn being poured into Premiership clubs by media groups.

by Rob Drake