CBS Sports and Italy’s top soccer league, Serie A, have exercised an option to extend their U.S. media rights deal by one year through the upcoming 2026-27 season. The deal covers 420 English-language matches -- mostly on Paramount+ -- including all games from Serie A, at least 20 Coppa Italia matches and every Supercoppa Italiana match.
Serie A first moved its U.S. rights from ESPN to CBS ahead of the 2021-22 season, signing a three-year deal worth about $75M annually. The deal was struck at the height of the streaming wars, when soccer rights were in high demand as media companies sought to drive subscriber acquisition. Serie A’s move coincided with ESPN signing an eight-year deal worth about $175M annually to carry La Liga (Spain) matches in the U.S.
Following the expiration of that three-year contract, however, the Italian league took a significant financial haircut amid a softer market for European soccer rights. Sources with knowledge of the two-year CBS renewal signed in 2024 said it was valued in the low eight figures. The two sides have now exercised a mutual option to extend that deal for an additional season, with the same economics believed to be in place.
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Serie A will take its U.S. rights back to market after this summer’s World Cup, potentially providing an opportunity to capitalize on increased interest in soccer among Americans. The league’s U.S. profile is aided by the presence of U.S. men’s national team players, including AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic and Juventus’ Weston McKennie.
Unlike its counterparts at La Liga, the Bundesliga (Germany) and Ligue 1 (France), Serie A does not have agency representation assisting with the sale of its U.S. media rights. The Bundesliga, which is represented by Relevent Sports under a 17-year partnership, is also in the market with its English- and Spanish-language rights beginning in 2026-27 following the expiration of its deal with ESPN.
Serie A’s Spanish-language agreement with Fox Deportes also expired at the end of the 2025-26 season.
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