The Discovery Italia arm of US media group Discovery Communications has acquired the exclusive media rights in Italy to the Six Nations rugby union tournament.
The deal will run for four editions of the annual tournament, from 2014 to 2017.
The contract encompasses television, online and mobile rights, with Discovery’s male-orientated digital-terrestrial channel DMAX set to transmit all games from the tournament.
The deal was agreed with Six Nations Rugby, which operates the tournament.
Alfredo Gavazzi, president of the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR), said that 15 games would be broadcast via free-to-air television to “bring rugby into the homes of a new audience that we have never reached before.”
Discovery said that it would provide additional support programming about the history and culture of the sport.
Italy will get its 2014 Six Nations campaign underway with a trip to reigning champion Wales on February 1.