Napoli’s Owner Slams Serie A’s New TV Deal, Predicts the Death of Italian Football
Napoli’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the new TV deal that Serie A has agreed upon. In a recent press conference, De Laurentiis interrupted Serie A president Luigi De Siervo’s announcement to declare that “Italian football will die” as a result of this controversial agreement.
The Italian top-flight league has reached an agreement with DAZN and Sky to continue broadcasting their matches for the next five years. This deal is worth £779 million per season, but it is £23 million less than the current package. Despite the majority of 17 out of 20 top division teams voting in favor of this deal, De Laurentiis believes it is a defeat for Italian football.
One of the revolutionary ideas that was considered was creating a Serie A channel, which would have allowed the league to produce all of its own content and cut out broadcasters entirely. However, due to time constraints and the need for infrastructure, this idea was not pursued. Instead, Serie A opted for the joint-offer from DAZN and Sky.
Previously, Italy had the Melandri law, which only allowed TV right contracts to be for three years at a time. However, this law has been relaxed, enabling the five-year package. The intention behind this change was to increase the value of domestic TV rights. However, many believe that this will further widen the financial gap between Premier League clubs and their Italian counterparts when the Premier League’s broadcast rights are renegotiated in 2025.
In addition to the £779 million per season offered by DAZN and Sky, there is also a revenue-sharing component to the deal. If specified targets are met, Serie A and DAZN will split revenue 50/50 to sustain and grow the subscriber base. Despite this additional aspect of the deal, it is unlikely to help Italy’s top clubs compete with the financial powerhouses of the Premier League, LaLiga, and the Bundesliga.
De Laurentiis’ outburst reflects the frustration and disappointment felt by many in Italian football. He believes that Sky and DAZN are not competent and that they are not good for Italian football. His strong words highlight the concerns about the future of Italian football and the potential consequences of this TV deal.
The impact of this deal goes beyond just the financial aspect. It raises questions about the competitiveness and attractiveness of Serie A compared to other top European leagues. With the Premier League, LaLiga, and the Bundesliga already enjoying significant financial advantages, this deal could further widen the gap and make it even more challenging for Italian clubs to compete on a global scale.
In conclusion, Napoli’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has expressed his strong opposition to Serie A’s new TV deal. He believes that this agreement will lead to the death of Italian football and that Sky and DAZN are not suitable partners for the league. The controversial deal, worth £779 million per season, has raised concerns about the future competitiveness and financial viability of Serie A. Only time will tell what impact this agreement will have on Italian football and whether it will indeed lead to its demise.