Italy

Gazzetta TV, the Italian sports channel operated by the RCS MediaGroup, has acquired rights to French football’s Trophée des Champions, along with the English Championship and League Cup competitions.

Lega Serie A and the Infront Sports & Media agency will launch a new IPTV platform on August 22 broadcasting games from the top division of Italian football, according to il Fatto Quotidiano.

Italian state broadcaster Rai has reached an agreement with the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) to show games from the Pro12 European club tournament and the Eccellenza, the top division of Italian club rugby union.

Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset has bolstered its club football content by agreeing three-season deals for France’s Ligue 1 and the Scottish Premiership.

Dutch pay-television broadcaster Sport1 has acquired rights for the Spanish Liga, while pay-television broadcaster Fox has reportedly won the tender in Italy for coverage of the top division of football in Spain.

Lega Basket, which operates the top division of basketball in Italy, will begin private discussions with two bidders for the competition’s rights.

The Mediaset Premium pay-television service of Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset has acquired rights to the International Champions Cup pre-season club football friendly tournament.

The Italian rugby federation said this week its recent deals covering domestic and international rights will help the game continue to develop at home and abroad, while providing financial security for the sport in Italy.

Interview with Alfredo Gavazzi, president of the Federazione Italiana Rugby, on the Italian rugby federation’s recent domestic and international rights deals.

The WWE wrestling organisation’s WWE Network pay-television channel is now available in Italy.

John Manning, research analyst for SportBusiness Intelligence, examines television audiences for this year's Uefa Champions League.

French media group Vivendi has raised its stake in telecommunications company Telecom Italia to 14.9 per cent under a deal in which it replaces Spanish telco Telefonica as its largest shareholder.

The B4 Capital agency has retained international rights for the Coppa Italia club football knockout tournament in Italy.

The B4 Capital agency has agreed a deal with Italian state broadcaster Rai to distribute rights for Italy national football team home friendly matches in the Americas, the Middle East and North Africa.

The Discovery Italia division of media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has agreed a four-year deal with the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) for the rights to the national team’s autumn Test matches.

RCS Media Group, the parent company of Italy’s Gazzetta TV channel, bought exclusive live rights to this month’s Copa América.