Italy ends football rights investigation

Italy’s antitrust authority has closed a probe into the sale of TV rights to football matches after announcing it was satisfied with new proposals made by the country’s football association Lega Calcio.

The watchdog began probing the market in July after suspecting Lega Calcio’s TV rights sale was benefiting incumbent pay-TV operators rather than viewers. It has now said that Lega Calcio had promised to offer a new package for satellite operators for highlights of Serie A matches. For Serie B matches, it has decided to split its Platinum package for satellite operators into three packages. New guidelines will be introduced for the 2012-13 season.