Italian pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia has secured the television rights to motorcycling’s MotoGP from the 2014 season.
The broadcaster will exploit the rights across its free-to-air, pay-television, internet and mobile platforms. Sky acquired the rights from MotoGP’s commercial rights-holder Dorna Sports.
Commercial broadcaster Mediaset, which has televised MotoGP in Italy for over a decade, is now expected to swoop for rival motorcycling series the Superbike World Championship.
Sky will have the exclusive rights to broadcast all 18 races of MotoGP’s three classes – MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3. The broadcaster will introduce HD coverage of the series. Sky will also be required to provide free-to-air coverage of eight MotoGP races.
Sky Italia chief executive, Andrea Zappia, said: “We are glad we have reached this agreement. It represents a new, decisive and important signal for subscribers who, in years to come, will be able to rely on one of the deepest-rooted sports event in Italians’ hearts. That confirms that Sky keeps investing in order to ensure an unparalleled offer by constantly enriching it.”