Sky Italia tries to block DAZN Serie A rights purchase
APRIL 23, 2021 12.28 EUROPE/LONDON BY JULIAN CLOVER

Not for the first time the award of sports rights within the Italian market is heading to the courts.

Sole 24 Ore reports Sky Italia has filed an appeal with a Milan court that seeks to block the award of Serie A rights to the DAZN-TIM partnership.

Following the March 26 award, Sky had anticipated being award rights to three weekly matches on a non-exclusive basis, but was refused.

Sky argues that by handing all available matches to a single provider, the league has dipropionately allocated the matches, and placed the balance of power with a single operator.

Sky Italia has subsequent;y announced plans to reduce staff by a quarter and its chief executive, Maximo Ibarra, will leave the company in July.

The hearing is scheduled to take place on May 5.