Amazon eyes Italian Champions League rights

Amazon is reportedly eyeing a bid for the UEFA Champions League rights in Italy.

According to Milano Finanza, the ecommerce giant is considering whether to take on Sky Italia in the bidding, with the Comcast-owned operator currently in the middle of a three-year €300 million rights deal for the Champions League and Europa League which ends in 2021.

The report notes that Mediaset, which is sublicensing a number of Champions League matches for two seasons, is also in the running for the 2021-24 rights cycle, along with DAZN, Mediaset, Rai and incumbent rights holder Sky.

While it may not bag all of the rights, the report says that Amazon is “determined to win part” of the total rights packages.

Broadcasters in Italy have been handed a October 12 deadline to submit offers.

The move is not entirely without precedent for Amazon. In December, the company secured a three-year rights deal for the A1 package that includes top matches from the competition on Tuesday evenings in Germany.

Amazon has also grown its focus on football throughout Europe, with 2019/20 marking its first season broadcasting a number of English Premier League matches in the UK.