Italy’s premier football league – Serie A – is to open an office in Abu Dhabi after striking a deal with a United Arab Emirates (UAE) media firm – the Abu Dhabi Media (ADM) – for exclusive broadcast rights, according to a report.
‘Arab News’ stated that the Serie A, which counts European giants Juventus F.C., Inter Milan and A.C. Milan among its clubs, will establish a presence in the region to capitalize on a strategic market.
The Abu Dhabi Media last month secured exclusive rights to broadcast Serie A games for three years in the Middle East and North Africa.
The Serie A, also called Serie A TIM for national sponsorship reasons, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and the winner is awarded the Scudetto and the Coppa Campioni d’Italia.
‘Arab News’ further stated that the league feels that establishing a base in Abu Dhabi “would be an ideal spot … for developing commercial and investment relations with the other countries in the Gulf region.”
While the move is yet to be confirmed by the league, sources stated that the announcement is expected to be made by the Serie A head honcho, Luigi De Siervo, at a meeting of European football leagues in Dubai on October 20th.
The Abu Dhabi Media (ADM) also has rights to games from Italy’s leading knockout tournament, the Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa match between the champions of Serie A and the Coppa Italia, which has in recent years been played in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The Abu Dhabi Media is the official media organization of the Government of Abu Dhabi. The organization was established in 2007. The company manages over 18 brands in two categories.
The Coppa Italia is an annual football cup competition established in Italy in 1922. The competition is open to all Serie A and Serie B clubs, as well as four teams of Serie C.
The Supercoppa Italiana is an annual football match contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season.
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