Serie A: Communications authority approves exchanging of package D between Mediaset and Sky Italia

AGCOM, the Italian regulatory authority for telecommunications, agreed to the sub-licensing of package D of 2015-2018 broadcast rights for Serie A on 18/07/2014. This decision opens the door for the resale of package D, which is owned by the Italian free- and pay-TV group Mediaset, to its rival Sky Italia with its Sky Sport pay-TV channels. The transaction remains subject to the approval of AGCM (the Italian competition authority).

In the tender for the broadcast rights for 2015-2018 Serie A, package D was for the exclusive broadcast of games held between the 12 "minor" teams of the Italian first division, for a total of 132 matches per season. Initially, Mediaset had made the highest bid on package D, while Sky Italia acquired packages A (satellite) and B (DTT), which both concern broadcasting of the top eight teams in the league (including Juventus, Inter, AC Milan, SSC Napoli and AS Roma), or 248 matches per season. This, even though Sky does not broadcast on DTT, while Mediaset does.

The two media groups and Lega Serie A had agreed to the exchange of packages B and D between…