CBS Sports, the US national network owned by Paramount, has extended its multi-platform media rights deal with Italian men's soccer’s top-tier Serie A for another season. The broadcaster will continue to provide exclusive English- and Italian-language coverage of the 20-team league through the end of the 2026-2027 campaign. Under this extension, CBS Sports is set to broadcast 420 matches next season. This includes all fixtures from Serie A, the Coppa Italia knockout competition, and the Supercoppa Italiana. All 380 Serie A matches next season will be streamed live on Paramount+, along with at least 20 Coppa Italia matches and every Supercoppa Italiana fixture.
Select games will also air across CBS Sports' linear and digital ecosystem. This includes platforms such as the CBS Television Network, CBS Sports Network, and their dedicated football channel - CBS Sports Golazo Network. In addition to match coverage, fans can look forward to comprehensive shoulder programming from CBS sports. This includes pre- and post-match studio shows as well as on-site production from selected games. Digital coverage across CBSSports.com and various social media platforms further enhances fan engagement.
The original partnership between CBS-Serie A began in 2021-22 when a three-season deal worth a reported $75 million per year was struck between both parties. That contract was renewed for subsequent campaigns until now where it is reportedly valued “in the low eight figures” annually – a significant decrease from its initial value in 2021.
US interest in Serie A
Before partnering with CBS sports network for broadcasting rights in America; ESPN held these rights previously. There is substantial interest in Serie A within America due largely to several national team stars featuring prominently within this league including AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic and Juventus’ Weston McKennie. Paramount’s soccer portfolio in the US also includes Europe’s elite UEFA Champions League club competition and rights to the English Football League, which organizes the second, third, and fourth tiers of England's soccer league pyramid.
In a move to optimize its scheduling process, Serie A has announced a new multi-year partnership with artificial intelligence technology and scheduling platform Fastbreak.ai. As part of this deal, Serie A will utilize Fastbreak Pro Schedule - a software platform developed using machine learning and AI. This innovative tool enables Serie A to manage fixtures effectively while meeting club needs and maintaining competitive balance.
Fastbreak Pro Schedule allows for the creation of season fixtures while balancing hundreds of rules and constraints. These include factors such as club sporting needs, blackout windows, rest periods, venue availability as well as broadcast requirements – all aimed at generating optimal matchups. This partnership signifies an important step towards leveraging technology in sports management for improved efficiency and competitiveness.
