Serie ‘A’ have rejected a $310 million bid by U.S. Comcast’ Sky to screen some of Italy’s top-flight championship matches over the next three seasons on a non-exclusive basis in the league’s home market.
The move paves the way for a new tender process for the package, which comprises non-exclusive rights to screen three out of 10 games per matchday.
“Within two weeks a new auction will be launched to tender unsold broadcasting rights,” Serie ‘A’ said in a statement.
Last week Serie ‘A’ awarded sport streaming service DAZN the rights to screen all Serie ‘A’ matches for 2.5 billion euros in the 2021-2024 period in Italy, including exclusive rights for seven out of 10 games per matchday
Serie ‘A’ had on Friday said it would hold talks until Monday with Sky about screening three games per matchday on a non-exclusive basis. SKY initially offered some 210 million euros for the package.
At a teleconference meeting on Monday, SKY’s improved offer was backed by 13 out 20 clubs, missing a required 14 vote majority as seven clubs, including Juventus, Inter Milan and Lazio abstained, the sources added.
Under the current three-year agreement, Serie ‘A’ raised some 2.9 billion euros from Sky and DAZN.
Meanwhile, AS Roma defender Marash Kumbulla faces up to four weeks out with a knee injury, the Serie ‘A’ club confirmed to Reuters on Monday.
The 21-year-old sustained a right knee sprain and a small tear to his meniscus while on international duty with Albania and will be out of action for three to four weeks.
But Kumbulla, who joined Roma from Hellas Verona at the start of the season, does not require surgery.
The centre back, who has made 23 appearances in all competitions this season, will miss both legs of Roma’s Europa League quarter-final against Ajax Amsterdam on April 8 and 15.
