Sports broadcasting contracts in Italy

This article refers to sports broadcasting contracts in Italy. For a list of broadcasting rights in other countries, see Sports television broadcast contracts.

In Italy, due to the law 8/99, the following sport events must be broadcasted for free:

• Winter and Summer Olympics
• all matches of Italy national football team.
• final of FIFA World Cup (live compulsory)
• final of UEFA European Football Championship (live compulsory)
• final and (if Italian teams are involved) semifinals of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
• Italy GP of F1
• Giro d'Italia

However, due to their length, Olympics and Giro may be broadcast partially for free.

In addition, these events may be broadcast for free if required:

• Final and semifinal of Davis Cup if Italian players are involved
• World Cycling Championship

Football

World

• FIFA World Cup (2014):
  • RAI (25 matches including Italy matches)
  • Sky Italia (all matches)
• Confederations Cup:
  • SKY Italia and (only 2009 edition, 2013 if Italy national football team is involved) RAI
• FIFA Club World Cup:
  • Mediaset Premium

Europe

• Italian national football team: RAI
• Serie A:
  • Sky Italia (all matches)
  • Mediaset Premium (all matches of Juventus, Milan, Internazionale, Roma, Napoli, Fiorentina, Palermo, Lazio, Genoa, Bari and matches in house and guests of the above teams of Bologna, Brescia).
• Serie B:
  • Sky Italia (all matches)
  • Mediaset Premium (partial matches)
• Lega Pro, Serie D
  • Rai Sport 1 (one match Sunday)
• Coppa Italia:
  • La7 (First four rounds)
  • RAI (From round of 16 to final)
• UEFA Champions League (from 2012/2013 to 2014/2015):
  • Mediaset (FTA Wednesday night first-pick match, possibility of broadcasting all semifinals)
  • SKY Italia (111 matches live, final in simulcast with Mediaset)
• UEFA Europa League:
  • Sportitalia (delayed matches without Italian clubs until 2011/2012)
  • Mediaset (FTA first-pick match)
  • Mediaset Premium (first-pick matches)
• UEFA Super Cup (from 2012):
  • Mediaset
• Premier League:
  • SKY Italia
• FA Cup:
  • SKY Italia
• Carling Cup:
  • SKY Italia
• Championship:
  • Sportitalia
• Bundesliga:
  • SKY Italia
• Ligue 1 (2010/11 and 2011/12)
  • Sportitalia
• Coupe de la Ligue:
  • Dahlia TV
• La Liga:
  • SKY Italia
• Copa del Rey:
  • SKY Italia
• Eredivisie:
  • Sportitalia
• Sagres Liga:
  • Sportitalia
• Russian Premier League:
  • SKY Italia

South America

• Brasileirao:
  • Sportitalia
• Primera División Argentina:
  • Sportitalia
• 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL):
  • Sportitalia
• Copa Libertadores:
  • Sky

Rest of World

• Major League Soccer:
  • Sportitalia
• J. League:
  • Eurosport

American football

• NFL: ESPN America

Basketball

• European Basketball Championships: RAI
• Serie A: RAI and La7
• Euroleague: Sportitalia
• Italian Cup: La7
• Italian Supercup: La7
• Serie A (female): Rai Sport
• NBA: Sportitalia ( 1 Sunday Game ) , SKY Italia ( 3 games per week,all star week end & exclusive finals )

Cycling

• Tour de France: RAI, Eurosport
• Giro d'Italia: RAI, Eurosport
• Vuelta a España: Eurosport
• World Cycling Championships: RAI, Eurosport
• UCI ProTour: RAI (some races), Eurosport

Fencing

• World Fencing Championships: RAI

Golf

• Ryder Cup: SKY Italia
• U.S. Masters: SKY Italia
• U.S. Open: SKY Italia
• British Open: SKY Italia
• PGA Championship: SKY Italia
• PGA Tour: SKY Italia
• European Tour: SKY Italia

Horse racing

• Prix d'Amerique: RAI

Multi-discipline events

• Olympic Games: SKY Sport, Eurosport and RAI in 2010 & 2012, SKY and another free broadcaster in 2014 & 2016

Motor Racing

• Formula 1 (from 2010)
  • RAI
    • Rai Due (only Qualifying)
    • Rai Uno (only Race)
• GP2: RAI (Rai Sport Più (first race) and Rai Due (second race))
• Moto GP:
  • Mediaset (FTA only Qualifying and Race) until 2012
  • Mediaset Premium (Free Practices, Qualifying, Warm-up and Race) until 2012
• Superbike World Championship: La7, Eurosport
• Supersport World Championship: La7, Eurosport
• FIM Superstock 1000 Cup: Nuvolari
• AMA Supercross: Nuvolari
• European Superstock 600 Championship: MotoTV
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: SKY Italia
• DTM: SKY Italia

Rugby Union

• Rugby World Cup: SKY Italia
• Six Nations: SKY Italia (Italy games will be broadcast in delay by La7)
• Super 10: Rai Sport Più
• Super Rugby: SKY Italia
• Aviva Premiership: SKY Italia
• Tri Nations: SKY Italia
• Celtic League: Rai

Sailing

• America's Cup: La7, Sportitalia, Dahlia TV, RAI, Eurosport
• Volvo Ocean Race: Dahlia TV, Yacht&Sail
• Louis Vuitton Pacific Series: RAI, Yacht&Sail
• Clipper Round the World Yacht Race: Yacht&Sail
• Barcolana regatta: RAI

Skiing

• Alpine Skiing World Cup: RAI, Eurosport

Tennis

• Davis Cup: Supertennis
• Fed Cup:
  • RAI (Only Italy matches)
  • Supertennis (All matches except RAI matches)
• ATP World Tour Masters 1000: SKY Italia, Italia 1 (only semifinals and final of Rome)
• ATP World Tour 500 series: Supertennis
• The Slam:
  • Wimbledon: SKY Italia
  • Australian Open: Eurosport
  • French Open: Eurosport
  • U.S. Open: Eurosport until 2012
• WTA Tour: Eurosport until 2011, Supertennis
• WTA Premier tournaments
  • Rome Masters: Supertennis

Volleyball

• Serie A1 and A2: RAI
• Italian Supercup: RAI
• Coppa Italia: RAI
• CEV Champions League: Sportitalia
• Volleyball World League: RAI
• Volleyball Grand Prix: La7
• European Volleyball Championship and World Volleyball Championship: RAI