NEWS FROM SETANTA SPORTS

First-ever ‘Commentweeter’ for FA Cup final

Setanta to offer Twitter commentary of end-of-season finale

Setanta Sports will be offering the first-ever Twitter commentary of an FA cup final next weekend when it’s match commentator, Jon Champion, turns ‘Commentweeter’ by simulcasting his comments on the social networking website throughout the game.

Champion, who has been commentating on live football for over 20 years, will be posting on his Twitter feed at the same time he leads the match commentary on Setanta Sports. He’ll also be using the micro-blogging site to post preview comments and interact with users in the days leading up to the final, which this year sees Chelsea take on Everton in the Wembley showpiece.

The Twitter commentary, which can be followed at www.twitter.com/commentweeter, is a key component of Setanta’s coverage, which plans to combine traditional FA cup final TV viewing with a modern twist. This year, Setanta’s coverage will start at 9am and will be free-to-air, meaning the signal will be un-encrypted and therefore available to cable and satellite viewers without a subscription, until 7pm.

In addition to Champion’s Twitter commentary, Setanta will running an FA cup final ‘event centre’ on Setanta.com before, during and after the game. The ‘event centre’ will feature the best action, reaction and stories and will include blog posts, Flickr photo galleries from Chelsea and Everton fans, behind-the-scenes videos and twitter feeds from presenters, fans and celebrities. Highlighting Setanta’s commitment to providing the best in online content, the ‘event centre’ can be found at www.setanta.com/cupfinal

Jon Champion said: “As a commentator, you want to communicate with people in a way that helps them enjoy the game as much as possible. If becoming a ‘Commentweeter’ is going to help do that, then I think this is a great idea. This will be the first time I’ve ever commentated on a game in two ways at the same time but I’m looking forward to it. I’ll be busy, but hopefully my co-commentator Craig Burley won’t be deliberately trying to put me off!”

Timothy Ryan, Setanta Marketing Director, said: “We want people to enjoy the whole sense of occasion of the FA Cup Final, combining both the old and the new in our coverage. Getting Jon to run the first ever FA cup final commentary on Twitter is a big part of that approach to make Setanta the destination for football fans on cup final day, especially as our coverage will be free-to-air and therefore all cable and satellite viewers can watch our output.”

“Whether Jon’s Twitter followers are fans who have to work during the final, want to combine watching the game with surfing the internet, or are even Chelsea and Everton fans in the stadium itself, we want to welcome everyone to Setanta on cup final day for what should be an exciting end-of-season finale.”

Jon Champion’s Twitter commentary is available to all users of Twitter at www.twitter.com/commentweeter

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