Serie B, Italian soccer's second-tier league, has finally found a new broadcaster after being on the brink of a blackout at the start of the season. Global sports streaming service, DAZN, has been announced as the domestic rights partner for Serie B for the next three seasons. The deal will cover campaigns from 2024-25 through to 2026-27.
This announcement comes shortly after league organizers were compelled to re-issue a domestic rights tender due to previous unsuccessful tenders. From 2021-22 through to 2023-24, Serie B was aired by pay-TV operator Sky Italia and now-defunct streaming service Helbiz.
In an effort to secure broadcasting rights at a lower price (around $14.2 million per year), all 20 constituent clubs of Serie B unanimously decided in August this year to re-tender their rights. This is significantly less than the reported $30 million per season received from DAZN and Sky during their final contract year.
Financial security concerns prompt lobbying efforts
The league has recently lobbied FIGC - Italy's national governing body - urging them to ensure financial security for non-elite soccer competitions like Serie B by distributing greater revenues. The league acknowledged market changes that have led broadcasters' funds towards new international mega competitions.
At one point, creating an in-house channel or streaming service was considered as an alternative solution by Serie B when direct-to-consumer services seemed like the only viable option left.
League released a statement:
“An impoverishment (not only economic) of the entire football system already widely predicted and announced for almost a year … It is essential at this point that the FIGC, unlike what has been done so far, acts as a spokesperson for the requests of all federal components.”
Extension of existing agreements with Rai and DAZN
Meanwhile, both DAZN and Italian free-to-air broadcaster Rai have secured rights for another three seasons of women’s football competition - Series A Femminile. These extensions will cover all games from the 2024-25 through to the 2026-27 seasons of the 10-team league. Rai will also broadcast one match per game week alongside DAZN (28 fixtures in total), as well as women’s Coppa Italia matches and Italian Super Cup knockout competitions.
Both DAZN and Rai initially partnered with Serie A Femminile last season under a one-year deal. The DAZN deal for 2023-24 extended to international markets, airing games in countries including the US, Canada, Japan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, UK, Portugal Belgium and Poland. The upcoming Serie A Femminile season is set to kick off on August 30th with Lazio and Roma facing off in a match that will be covered jointly by DAZN and Rai. Last season's title was won by Roma.
Domestically speaking for men’s football competition - Serie A matches coverage will be provided by both DAZN and pay-TV's Sky Italia for the next five seasons. For international coverage of women’s league matches however proposals are being accepted until August 23rd following an extension from July 30th after a meeting of league clubs. In terms of sponsorship for Serie A Femminile e-commerce giant eBay has been announced as their title partner.
