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ITALIAN BROADCASTER FREEZES TV RIGHTS CASH

Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset has written to the Italian football league, the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, to say it has frozen payments for its exclusive TV highlights rights for Serie A.

According to Italian press reports the broadcaster told the league that Mediaset is rethinking its three-year contract, signed last year, because of the possible relegation of major clubs. Mediaset’s deal is worth Eur61.7 million a season, but believes the value of the product will not be the same if as expected top clubs Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio are relegated from Serie A for match fixing. A decision is expected in the case today or in the coming days.

The next season's payment was due to be made early this month. Mediaset wants to meet the league administrators but the league is totally opposed to renegotiating the contract.