After a month spent quarrelling and duelling, Sky Italia and Mediaset Premium have finally found an agreement which settles the dispute and averts the risk of a possible system paralysis. Essentially Sky Italia have bought for 572 million euros the rights to broadcast all Italian matches (380 a season) together with the privilege of airing exclusive pre-match images from the changing rooms and the option of transmitting in 3d and Super HD via satellite. 

Mediaset Premium will have 132 matches less than the direct competitors but through the payment of 373 million they have assured their clients the view of all games played by the major eight teams in Serie A, including: Milan, Juventus, Inter, Roma and Napoli (which alone potentially sum up to 80% of the national audience).

The airing rights of Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana (roughly worth 20-30 million) and the entitlement to broadcast three matches via Internet and mobile technologies still remain unsold. Same faith for the rights to show Italian matches from abroad, which should be traded for a figure somewhere around 200-250 million (way higher than the current triennium). If the figure was to meet expectations then it would once again confirm the increase in European football’s turnover, despite the loss of appeal Serie A is presently living. Once these packages have been assigned, broadcasting Italian football would be approximately worth 1,2 billion a year, guaranteeing an estimated 20% increase from the current season.

Enlarging the lens. Serie A should therefore be subject to a 20% rise thanks to the newly signed deals. Not bad. Until you compare that to Premier league. Thanks to a greater appeal, a more solid and internationalising brand and a good League management, English football has experienced an incredible escalation in revenue through tv rights last season. 2013/14 was in fact the first season of the new EPL triennial contract with tv broadcasters: the league’s revenues from television airing grew by an overall 70% and all teams earn about 10 million more than the previous term for a combined total of 1,8 billion just last year. Yes. That is 50% more than Serie A.

It must be said that the big-5 leagues have different income distribution systems, but nonetheless comparing single clubs still well represents the European scene where Real Madrid and Barcelona alone benefit from 50% of the total money generated by airing Liga games. Moving focus back to the Uk, revenues are more evenly distributed: - half of the total is equally distributed to all clubs - 25% based on league standings - the remaining quarter is allocated depending on the number of times the match is transmitted. Despite their bitter ending in the league, Liverpool can claim the highest tv audience in England during the latest season. Fans and club surely were let down by ending in second place on the chart, but this particular primacy was still worth 117 million euros of revenue.

If we want a contrast with Italian clubs we better scroll right down the chart, as Cardiff in last position had the same income from playing national games as Milan and Inter did.

National TV right revenues: Serie A vs Premier League

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abroad TV right revenues: Serie A vs Premier League

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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