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Rai and Sky Italia have been awarded major UEFA Champions League media rights packages in Italy for the period between 2009 and 2012. The two top broadcasters won the rights deals after what UEFA described on Tuesday as "a competitive and thorough sales process".

Live and highlights
Public broadcaster Rai has won a package of rights which include the exclusive free-to-air broadcast of the first choice live match on a Wednesday (including the final and the UEFA Super Cup) every matchweek. Rai will broadcast these matches on its Rai Uno and Rai Due channels. In addition, Rai will show dedicated highlights programmes on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Comprehensive package
Sky Italia has secured a comprehensive package of UEFA Champions League rights. The broadcaster will show all live matches (including the final) in full across its various channels as well as a complete range of match action on its popular "Diretta Goal" channel as well as highlights on both nights.

Extensive coverage
Each broadcaster will exploit the rights on the Internet via www.rai.it and www.skytv.it respectively as well as on mobile. Consequently, football fans across Italy will have an extensive coverage not only on television but also via online and mobile services.

Valued partner
"UEFA is extremely pleased to announce these media rights deals with Rai and Sky Italia," said UEFA General Secretary David Taylor. "Rai has been a valued partner of UEFA since 2006 and their offer for the next cycle of media rights will ensure great free-to-air exposure for the competition in Italy.

Continued strength
"Sky Italia has, by virtue of its commitment to industry leading production standards, extensive promotion and programming capacity also proved to be an excellent partner for the UEFA Champions League in Italy for a number of years," he added. "Both these valued partnerships demonstrate the continued strength of the UEFA Champions League and we welcome the fact that both are set to continue for the 2009-12 period."

Pay TV rights
Currently, pay TV rights for the UEFA Champions League are shared in Italy between DTH and DTT operators. UEFA is considering its options in respect of the sale of the DTT rights and discussions are ongoing but no agreement has been concluded.

UEFA Europa League rights
"UEFA also received a number of competitive offers for the 2009-2012 seasons of the UEFA Europa League," the European body said. "This sales process was suspended pending finalisation of the UEFA Champions League rights and a further round of bidding will be announced shortly." TEAM Marketing AG is the exclusive marketing agent of UEFA for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Europa League

(Source: UEFA.com)