March 25 – Serie A is switching broadcasters in US from next season with CBS Sports taking the rights from ESPN in a three-year deal.
Reportedly worth $200 million for the 2021-24 cycle, it marks a 30% increase in the US rights for Serie A, according the league’s CEO Luigi Di Servio.
“Today is not a point of arrival, but rather the beginning of a path of investment in human resources and editorial content functional to support the constant growth of Serie A throughout North America. This result is the fruit of the work of the last 18 months and the ever-increasing number of American properties that have decided to invest in our franchises,” said Di Servio.
While the rights price increase in the US is a step forward for the league, overall it is expecting a drop in international rights fees, mainly due to its 36-country Middle East and African (plus Australia and France) deal with beIN Sports likely to be halved from the current $500 million fee paid for the rights cycle ending this year.
The move by CBS for Serie A and Coppa Italia rights further adds to the broadcasters increased football presence, already holding rights to the UEFA Champions League, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Argentina’s Liga Profesional de Futbol, Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A and Concacaf international matches.
CBS has not released detail of how it will schedule Serie A matches between its linear and streaming services.
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