Serie A secures MENA broadcast deal with Abu Dhabi Media after season-long absence

Italian top-flight football league Serie A has agreed a broadcast deal in the MENA region with Abu Dhabi Media.

The three-season deal, which will see the competition shown in the region after more than a year’s absence, is worth a minimum total of €75 million. In comments made to AFP, ADM confirmed that the value of the deal could increase depending on the number of subscribers the league attracts. 

Serie A had previously been shown in the region by beIN Sports, but the Qatari-owned broadcaster chose not to renew its deal after the 2020/21 season when it accused the league of failing to adequately tackle piracy. The relationship was also strained by Serie A’s deal to host the Supercoppa in Saudi Arabia amid heightened tensions between the countries. 

It was previously reported that beIN had returned to the table after being directly approached by AS Roma owner Dan Friedkin, though those efforts were evidently not enough to convince it to seriously rival the winning ADM.

In lieu of a broadcast deal, Serie A spent the 2021/22 season showing the matches for free on YouTube in the region. 

ADM’s deal is worth significantly less than what beIN previously paid for the rights, with the old deal worth a reported €112 million per season.