Italian pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia is set to snatch the media rights to motorcycling’s MotoGP from commercial broadcaster Mediaset from 2014 onwards. Mediaset has reportedly reacted by snatching the rights for the Superbike World Championship series from commercial broadcaster La7.
Sky has offered Dorna Sports, MotoGP’s commercial rights-holder, €17 million ($22.1 million) per season for the rights, almost double what Mediaset currently pays, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. Mediaset’s contract expires after the current season.
The MotoGP has been a huge ratings success for Mediaset for over a decade. To ensure it is not left without top motorcycling, the broadcaster has reportedly acquired the rights to the Superbike series, shutting out incumbent broadcaster La7. According to the Gazzetta, La7 had agreed a three-year renewal with Paolo Flammini, who runs Superbike for its owners, the Infront Sports & Media agency, and was about to sign when communication between the parties was suddenly broken off. Flammini declined to comment to the Italian sports paper.
STORY UPDATED ON 15 MAY 2012 – START DATE OF SKY ITALIA DEAL CHANGED TO 2014, FROM 2013