Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset is reportedly nearing a deal with pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia to sublicense selected rights to football’s Uefa Champions League.
The Reuters news agency, citing two sources close to the matter, said the deal still requires sign-off but that agreement is close.
The deal would allow Mediaset to broadcast selected Champions League matches on its free-to-air channels for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. Sky Italia would retain rights to all matches, which would continue to be broadcast on its pay-television platform.
In June 2017, Sky Italia secured exclusive live rights to all Champions League and Europa League matches from the 2018-19 season through to 2020-21. It replaced Mediaset as the rights-holder.