April 18 – Mediaset are on the verge of wrestling the free-to-air rights for the Champions League from Italian state broadcaster RAI in a two-year deal with Sky Italia.
Public-service broadcaster Rai currently holds has the free-to-air rights in Italy in a sub-license deal with Sky Italia, which allows RAI to broadcast Champions League games until the 2019/20 season. Rai’s package is largely focused on the Italian clubs in the European competition, with the broadcaster entitled to show matches featuring an Italian club in each round of games, two semi-final matches, the final and the pre-season Super Cup.
Rai’s deal with Sky Italia is worth about €40 million (U$45.2 million) per season, but the broadcaster seems reluctant to commit further to the Champions League. Italian news outlet Libero reports that Mediaset is keen to step in. Mediaset were outbid by Sky Italia in 2017 for the Champions League rights in a deal worth about €290 million per season.
Mediaset is reportedly is €50million per season to the pay-TV broadcaster. The bid includes a aTuesday night game played by two non-Italian sides in the proposal.
Earlier this week Juventus crashed out of the Champions League as Italy’s last representative in the competition. This season Italy enjoyed four automatic places in the Champions League for the first time.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713961685labto1713961685ofdlr1713961685owedi1713961685sni@o1713961685fni1713961685