Italian season on hold

The start of the Serie A and Serie B seasons has been postponed until 15 September because of the clubs' failure to agree television contracts.

Lega Calcio meeting
Brescia Calcio president Luigi Corioni and his Sampdoria UC counterpart Riccardo Garrone confirmed that the decision to delay the start of the season had been taken at a Italian league authorities (Lega Calcio) meeting today.

Breakdown in negotiations
The season was scheduled to begin on 31 August. However, a breakdown in negotiations with state broadcasters RAI over a highlights deal and the unhappiness of some of Serie A's smaller clubs with the package for live matches has forced a two-week postponement.

Galliani's reaction
Legia Calcio president, and acting Milan AC president, Adriano Galliano said: "The postponement has mainly been decided to allow clubs and league to analyse more in depth the possibility of creating a new pay-TV platform for those eight Serie A and three Serie B clubs who still don't have a pay-TV contract for the coming season. The other ten Serie A clubs have signed a contract either with Telepiù or Stream TV."

RAI offer rejected
The Lega Calcio have rejected an offer of €45m from RAI for the right to broadcast highlights as it is around 40 per cent down on last season's deal which also included some matches in the Coppa Italia. 

Stumbling block
Another stumbling block has come with the offers made by broadcaster Telepiù to individual clubs to show live matches. Eight Serie A clubs have rejected the offer of €5m each from the subscription broadcaster.

Juventus the top earners
The eight - Atalanta BC, Brescia, AC Perugia, AC Chievo Verona, Como Calcio, Empoli FC, Modena FC and Piacenza FC - are unhappy at the share offered to them considering the much greater sums agreed with the more high-profile clubs. Champions Juventus FC, the top earners, have already agreed a contract worth €54m with Telepiù.

Negotiations to continue
Galliani has been mandated to continue negotiations with RAI. "RAI is our natural partner," he said. "I am not aware of any interest from Mediaset or La 7 [the other two public broadcasters in Italy]. Therefore, I believe that either we find an agreement with RAI or there won't be any pictures for free television. It is clear that we do not intend to sell our rights at a lower price than last season."

'A very positive day'
"Today is a very positive day for Italian football," Galliani continued. "All decisions taken today have been taken unanimously. Italian football has reinforced its position as all clubs have agreed together to postpone the start of the league. This is a clear sign of solidarity towards those clubs who do not have a pay-TV contract yet."