Milan Judge Cancels Mediapro's Tender For Serie A Rights

A Milan judge on Wednesday canceled a tender by Spain’s Mediapro for TV broadcasting rights of Serie A, ruling in favor of a legal challenge by Sky’s Italian unit, according to Manuela D’Alessandro of REUTERS. The decision, filed after a Friday hearing, said that the tender "breached antitrust rules," a judicial source said. Mediapro "now has 15 days to appeal the decision." Mediapro was not "immediately available for comment" (REUTERS, 5/9). FOOTBALL ITALIA reported Mediapro won Serie A’s TV rights for '18-21 in February, but its purchase was "quickly challenged by Sky, which felt the former was not in a legal position to buy them." Consequently, the bidding process "is expected to start over, which will also allow Mediaset back in, although it remains to be seen whether Mediapro will launch a second bid" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 5/9). FOOTBALL ITALIA also reported Sky promised to make "an important offer" in the next auction for Serie A’s TV rights, which "safeguards" Italian football (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 5/9).