DAZN and Sky Secure Five-Year $4.8B Serie A Broadcast Rights Amid Controversy

Despite Approval of 17 of 20 Clubs, Critics Argue New Deal Still Falls Short of Raising Serie A's Market Value and Risks Further Lag Behind Premier Leagues; DAZN and Sky Italia Promise Revenue Sharing and Other Potential Add-Ons.

DAZN and Sky Italia have clinched a five-year domestic broadcast rights deal with Serie A, green-lighted by 17 of the league's 20 clubs. The deal, reportedly worth €4.77B, covers the 2024-25 to 2028-29 seasons.
DAZN is set to be the primary broadcaster, proposing a minimum revenue of $744M per season, with Sky Italia contributing an additional $213M each season. A total of 266 Serie A games out of 380 per season will be aired on DAZN, while Sky will broadcast 114 matches annually.
Despite the approval, the new deal has faced criticism as it offers $28M less than the current agreement that expires in June 2024. Critics, including Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, argue that the deal poses a threat to Italian football's future.
The new deal's overall value could reach $5.3B when including potential add-ons. Clubs could benefit from uncapped revenue sharing tied to performance criteria such as subscriber growth. However, for the first two years, the clubs will earn less than the agreed annual payment of $947M.
Three clubs opposed the DAZN-Sky Italia bid, advocating instead for the Serie A league to launch its own direct-to-consumer business model for broadcasting matches. This suggests a future potential shift in the league's broadcast strategy.