Serie B clubs are planning the new season, but they still don’t know what resources they will be able to count on from TV rights. The only certainty is that these resources will decrease compared to the past. In the previous agreement, the 20 clubs had 43 million euros available, divided between Sky (28 million), Dazn (12 million) and abroad (3 million). However, the agreement with Helbiz has now fallen through some time ago.
The first tender for a new agreement was deserted, leading the League to organize a market consultation with various parties. Tomorrow, Wednesday 19 June, the clubs will discuss the issue in an ad hoc meeting, before opening a new tender. It is expected that Sky could reach a maximum of 16 million euros and Dazn at 14 million, with a confirmation of 3 million from abroad. However, surprises are not excluded.
In addition to their own rights, clubs can also count on mutuality, which provides 6% of Serie A TV rights. In the new agreement, the amount allocated to Serie B has dropped, going from 78 million euros in the previous three years to 60 million per year. In total, therefore, Serie B should go from 121 million euros to 93 million, with a reduction of approximately 1.3 million per club.
This dwindling resource represents a significant challenge for societies. It all depends on the offer that the various interested parties will be willing to put on the table, probably more attracted by the next major international events.
Despite the difficulties, Serie B can count on a growing audience. The average audience during the last season exceeded 600 thousand spectators per day, consolidating the data of the previous season, when it was 450 thousand. Before the pandemic, the audience was around 250 thousand spectators. The average audience for playoffs and playouts reached almost 2.6 million, a figure that is also increasing.
The assembly will try to provide clarity for the clubs, who must plan for next season and know the resources available. Hoping for some innovative solution to safeguard the value of the tournament in the face of upcoming major international events.
