Rai and Sky Italia seal F1 sublicensing deal

Italian state broadcaster Rai has acquired rights to the Formula One motor-racing championship in a sublicensing deal with pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia.

According to Italian newspaper La Stampa, the deal will run for five years, from 2013 to 2017.

Under the agreement, which was first reported exclusively by TV Sports Markets on December 12, Rai will show nine grands prix live per year on free-to-air television. Rai will show the other 10 races in 2013 on a three-hour delay.

The state broadcaster will show live coverage of the Italian grand prix at Monza as well as the races in China, Canada, Hungary, Spain, Singapore, Japan, the US and Brazil.

The delayed broadcasts of the remaining races will be shown on free-to-air channel Rai 2.