Lega Serie A has initiated private talks with bidders for the international rights to the Coppa Italia knockout club football tournament in Italy.
The Infront Sports & Media agency, which is advising the Lega, said that offers for the rights would be considered if they are submitted this week. Bids must be delivered to the Lega’s Milan offices before midday local time this Friday, May 29.
The rights will cover three seasons, from 2015-16 to 2017-18, and include the Supercoppa pre-season competition.
The B4 Capital agency, the incumbent rights-holder, has tabled the highest bid so far, valued at just under €18m ($20.43m) per season. The Lega decided to proceed with further negotiations because the difference between the agency’s bid and the second-highest offer, thought to have been from pay-television broadcaster beIN Media Group, was less than €2m per season.
Spanish agency Mediapro and the IMG Events & Media agency also submitted bids.