International sports broadcaster Eurosport has secured exclusive rights in Italy for the Pro12 European club rugby union championship.
At least 10 home games featuring either Benetton Treviso or Zebre in the championship will be shown live by Eurosport. The coverage will be available on the broadcaster’s channels and via the Eurosport Player digital service.
Eurosport will also show some away games featuring the Italian clubs, staring with Zebre’s visit to Ulster in round nine on November 25.
According to Pro12 chief executive Martin Anayi, the Italian teams’ home games will also be available via Eurosport in more than 40 countries across Europe and Asia.
The deal, which will run until the end of the 2016-17 season, comes after Italian state broadcaster Rai decided against renewing a deal to show the Pro12, leaving the tournament without a broadcast partner in Italy since the start of the season in September.
DMAX, a male-orientated digital-terrestrial channel that is operated by Eurosport’s parent company, Discovery Communications, has rights to Italy national team autumn internationals through to 2018, as well as the Six Nations Championship.