Setanta Sports, said recently that it would consider offers that have been made for the company, but it denied the claim that it has started a formal selling process.
At least five UK and US telecommunications, media and financial groups, including BT and ITV have put forward unsolicited approaches to Setanta in recent months, according to investment bankers.
Goldman Sachs, a 20 per cent shareholder in Setanta and its long-term adviser, has not been instructed to begin a formal auction process.
Leonard Ryan and Michael O'Rourke, Setanta's founders and chief executives, told their staff that: "There is frequently speculation of this sort regarding Setanta but we have not put the company up for sale."
They continued: "If we receive offers we will look at them, our adviser and shareholder, Goldman Sachs, will act for us in this regard, and we will let you know of any significant developments if and when they occur."
