Following former Juventus midfielder Alessandro Del Piero's move to Australia's Sydney FC, Mediaset Premium in Italy has "acquired the media rights" to 27 A-League games, according to Fabio Morasca of CINETIVU.com. The broadcaster will air Del Piero's Australian debut against Wellington Phoenix FC on Oct. 6 at 9:30am, Italian time. Mediaset Premium will also broadcast Del Piero's debut in Sydney FC's new stadium against the Newcastle Jets (CINETIVU.com, 10/1). In Melbourne, Val Migliaccio wrote that Del Piero "has helped shatter a myth" that the A-League cannot be sold to cultured Italian markets. His arrival in Sydney has brought new opportunities in Italy, but Del Piero "must contend with a Serie A blackout as the competition is shunned" by Australian TV. The former Serie A player has been "in demand for an Italian pay-TV audience that has never shown interest" in A-League football until his two-year contract with Sydney FC. For his part, Del Piero will not be able to watch Juventus matches this season "unless he bypasses Australian TV for Italy's government-owned Rai Int'l TV." Italian subscribers will be able to watch Del Piero for about $30 a month (HERALD SUN, 10/2).
