Italian pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia has finalised its renewal of Formula 1 broadcast rights for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
The rights extension, which was reported by SportBusiness Media earlier this month, was announced by the broadcaster this afternoon (Friday).
Sky Italia’s existing contract runs from 2018 to 2020.
The renewal comes with sister pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland having completed an exclusive multi-year Formula 1 rights deal in Germany at the start of this week. That agreement also comes into effect in 2021.
Sky Italia’s new deal was agreed with Formula One Management, the Formula One Group subsidiary that handles the commercial rights to the series.
Marzio Perrelli, executive vice-president at Sky Italia, said: “We are happy to remain a reference point for all motorsport enthusiasts. We went through a health emergency period with due concern but always looking to the future with optimism.
“Sky confirms that it believes in Formula 1, one of the pillars of our sports offer, that we want to continue to enhance the value and tell the story with passion as always, for the love of speed and motorsports.”
Sky Italia also shows live coverage of Formula 1 practice and qualifying sessions, the FIA Formula 2 Championship and the Porsche Supercup stock car racing series, as well as producing many news and analysis segments around Formula 1 on its other sports channels.
Rai, the Italian public-service broadcaster that shared live Formula 1 rights (with Sky) from 2013 to 2017, has sub-licensed free-to-air rights to the Italian Grand Prix from Sky Italia during the current contract period.
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky also holds extensive Formula 1 rights in a deal running from 2019 to 2024.
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