MFE retains TV rights for next three seasons of Italian soccer cup, sources say

MILAN : Italy's top soccer league Serie A awarded commercial broadcaster MFE-MediaForEurope the TV rights for the next three seasons of the Italian Cup competition, in a deal worth around 168 million euros, two sources close to the matter said on Monday.

The deal also includes the right to screen the Italian Super Cup which has been revamped earlier this year as a four-team competition rather than being a match between the winners of Serie A and the Italian Cup.

The broadcaster offered to pay about 56 million euros ($59.48 million) per season, including some variable components, the sources said, adding 18 out of 20 Serie A clubs voted in favour of the deal at a teleconferenced meeting on Monday.

MFE-MediaForEurope declined to comment.

The company is the current holder of the Italian Cup and Super Cup domestic TV rights, under a three-year contract expiring in June and worth some 145 million euros.

($1 = 0.9415 euros)