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The Irish-owned pay television group is now set to launch a 24-hour TV channel showing coverage from the PGA Tour.

The channel, which launches in January 2007, will first be available on Sky and NTL. Setanta is also in negotiation to take over a slot on Freeview as a pay-to-view subscription channel through the Top Up TV platform.

The six-year deal gives Setanta the rights to all PGA Tour events and programming including 'The Player's Championship', which features high-profile players in the sport. Setanta has also snared the rights to the 24 events in the Champions Tour, featuring professional golfers 50 years old and over, and show coverage of the PGA Nationwide Tour.

Trevor East, Setanta's director of sports, said; "Following quickly on the heels of our recent English and Scottish Premier League successes, this is a major coup for Setanta. A dedicated golf channel featuring the game's biggest names in peak viewing times alongside our major football content, provides a compelling proposition for subscribers."

Tim Leisure, vice-president of international TV at the PGA Tour, said: "We couldn't be more pleased with our new relationship with Setanta Sports, which coincides with the launch of the FedExCup series in 2007.

"The Tour has a new look in 2007 and with our new partner, Setanta Sports, a new golf channel on which to present our mutual passion for the game of golf."

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