Discovery has confirmed the acquisition of regional sports channel Setanta Sports Asia (ContentAsia Insider, 23 April 2015).

And the investment in sports for Asia is not over, says Discovery Networks International president, JB Perrette, saying that the network will continue to invest in premium sports for the region.

The acquisition adds some key rugby properties to Discovery’s sports portfolio,boosted in the past three months with the acquisition of exclusive media rights for Champions League in Singapore.

Setanta Sports Asia airs more than 500 rugby matches per season in both HD and SD. It also has a multi-device player, Setanta Sports Plus.

Setanta’s most valuable rights are SANZAR (South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby), including all home international matches, plusSuper Rugby, European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, National Rugby League, Aviva Premiership and Guinness Pro 12.

At the same time, the Rugby World Cup (16 markets) and the 2015 Sevens World Series (17 markets) have gone to Fox Sports. The Rugby World Cup excludes Malaysia, where rights have been picked up by Astro.

Discovery Networks Asia Pacific says Setanta Sports Asia reaches more than 42 million homes in 16 countries in Asia.