Mediaset awarded UEFA Champions League free-to-air rights and comprehensive UEFA Europa League media rights packages

Mediaset have secured the rights to the UEFA Champions League premium package which includes free-to-air coverage of 16 exclusive Wednesday first choice live matches, the Saturday final (which will be simultaneous with Sky Italia), highlights on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays and the UEFA Super Cup. Mediaset will broadcast the UEFA Champions League matches on Italia 1 and Canale 5.

In parallel, following the award of all live UEFA Europa League matches, Mediaset will continue as per their current coverage – broadcasting on Italia 1 and Retequattro, as well as on Mediaset Premium.

In line with UEFA’s platform neutral approach, the rights to both UEFA club competitions will be also exploited on the internet and through mobile technology via www.sportmediaset.it and via Mediaset’s mobile portal. As a result, football fans across Italy will have an extensive choice of coverage both on television and via online and mobile services.

Commenting on the award of media rights, Guy-Laurent Epstein, Marketing Director of UEFA Events SA, said: “UEFA is excited at the prospect of extending its partnership with Mediaset. They have proved their commitment to the UEFA Europa League helping establish it as a high quality property in the market. This renewal will help to further consolidate the positioning of the competition in Italy. “In addition, Mediaset’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League on the two leading commercial free-to-air channels in Italy, Canale 5 and Italia 1, will ensure football fans throughout Italy great access to the competition.”

UEFA wishes to also thank the incumbent free-to-air rights holder Rai for its ongoing contribution to the UEFA Champions League since the 2006-07 season. Rai will continue its coverage of the UEFA Champions League until the end of the 2011-12 season.

About UEFA Events SA

UEFA Events SA is a wholly owned subsidiary of UEFA, created to manage and handle the European football governing body's commercial and event operations. It is, among other things, responsible for generating media rights, sponsorship, licensing and hospitality revenue from all professional national team and club competitions, and for managing relationships with all associated commercial partners. TEAM Marketing AG is the exclusive marketing agency of UEFA for the exploitation of certain media and commercial rights relating to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Europa League.