The two leagues agreed to a salvage plan put forward by Filmmaster, one of Dahlia’s shareholders and the company responsible for most of its sports production. Under the plan, the leagues would write off €60 million owing in television rights income for the rest of this season and all of next season, receiving only €6 million for providing the television production of the matches, according to Italian media reports.
Dahlia’s main shareholders, Airplus TV, owned by the Wallenberg family from Sweden, would contribute €11 million to help pay off debts estimated at over €100 million, and Telecom Italia Media, another shareholder, would substantially reduce the distribution fee of €30 million per year which it currently charges for distributing Dahlia on its digital-terrestrial multiplex.
A new company would be created to run the pay-television service to ensure that the 300,000 subscribers who have paid in advance to see the matches of eight Serie A teams would continue to receive coverage.
With the clubs in agreement, the plan hinges on Telecom, whose board meets on Wednesday to discuss the proposal. Maurizio Beretta, chief executive of Lega Serie A, said: “We’re ready to do our bit but first there must be the agreement of Telecom.”