Italy: RAI's appeal dismissed as Mediaset gains rights to one free-to-air Champions League match

The Milan court has dismissed the appeal of the Italian public service broadcasting group RAI, which challenged an agreement between the pay-TV operator Sky Italia and the free and pay-TV group Mediaset concerning the broadcasting rights, in Italy, of a free-to-air UEFA Champions League match over the 2019-2021 period, on 16/08/2019.

One game per Champions League matchday during this period will therefore be broadcast on one of the Mediaset group's free channels (Canale 5, Italia 1, Rete 4 and Canale 20). The Milan court ruled in Sky Italia's favour on 26/06/2019 before RAI appealed this decision, according to the Italian press on 29/07/2019.

RAI had sub-licensed these rights from Sky Italia for the 2018-19 season, with an option for the following two seasons on 25/01/2018. While the public TV group wished to exercise its option, Sky refused and negotiated a more lucrative agreement with Mediaset.

• In the initial agreement (on 25/01/2018) between RAI Sector: Italian Public Audiovisual Group Founded: 03/01/1954 Shareholding: • Italian State: 99.5583% • SIAE (copyright management…