Tensions in the Italian football broadcasting market have escalated once again after Sky Italia filed a lawsuit against DAZN and TIM over the domestic television rights tender for Serie A during the 2021-2024 cycle.
According to Italian news agency ANSA, Sky is seeking €1.9 billion in damages, alleging that the partnership between DAZN and TIM created an anti-competitive structure that caused significant commercial harm to the broadcaster.
The case will now be evaluated by the Milan Court, which will decide whether Sky is entitled to the massive compensation claim.
The lawsuit stems from the strategic alliance formed by DAZN and TIM to jointly secure the main package of Serie A broadcasting rights.
Italian competition authorities previously described the arrangement as a “serious anti-competitive agreement.” Earlier this year, the country’s antitrust regulator fined DAZN €3.6 million and TIM €760,776 over the case.
Under the current broadcasting structure, DAZN holds rights to all Serie A matches, including seven exclusive games per round, while Sky continues to air three matches per matchweek.
The existing contracts guarantee approximately €900 million annually to Serie A between the 2024-2025 and 2028-2029 seasons, underlining the enormous economic value of Italian football’s media rights ecosystem.
The dispute also reflects the broader transformation taking place across the European sports media landscape, where traditional broadcasters and streaming platforms are increasingly battling for premium football content and long-term market dominance.
For the Italian market, the Serie A rights process has become one of the clearest examples of how competition for sports media rights is reshaping the balance between telecom operators, digital platforms, and legacy television broadcasters.