Pay-TV operator Sky is claiming up to 1.9 billion euros in damages from Telecom Italia and streaming platform DAZN over a deal that secured exclusive rights to Serie A soccer matches.
The lawsuit, filed with a Milan court, alleges the 2021 partnership between TIM and DAZN restricted competition and violated antitrust rules, according to a TIM statement tied to its first-quarter earnings. Italy's antitrust authority in 2023 had already found the agreement - which gave DAZN the right to broadcast all Serie A matches for three seasons beginning 2021-2024 for 2.5 billion euros - was anticompetitive. That ruling was upheld by Italy's top administrative court last year, though DAZN's fine was later halved to 3.6 million euros.
Sky argues the deal was specifically designed to lock it out of the market. In its claim, Sky says it suffered 1.1 billion euros in lost profits, and the total could rise to 1.9 billion euros when including 500 million euros in interest and up to 380 million euros in brand devaluation.
Hearings are expected in the last quarter of this year. All parties declined to comment.