Egidio Bianchi has announced he will step down as president of Lega Basket Serie A, the top division of Italian club basketball, with a commission formed to determine his replacement and address other key issues such as the organisation’s broadcast rights.
Bianchi’s contract was due to run through to October, but he is now set to resign once a new president is found. The commission will be led by the Lega’s three most influential clubs – Virtus Bologna, Olimpia Milano and Dinamo Sassari.
They will seek to identify a new president and assess the Lega’s broadcast rights for the next three-season window. Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport said Bianchi’s work, notably on the subject of media rights, has been questioned by several clubs of late, adding that the commission will seek to put forward a new president by the end of February.
State broadcaster Rai and international sports broadcaster Eurosport currently hold rights to Lega Basket under three-season deals spanning 2017-18 to 2019-20. Eurosport also has international rights for two seasons, from 2018-19 to 2019-20.