Milan, Italy – Serie A, Italy's top-flight football league, has partnered with Meta to combat the increasing issue of illegal live streaming of matches on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The agreement, announced yesterday, aims to protect the value of Serie A's broadcast rights.
Under the partnership, Serie A will gain access to Meta's advanced tools designed to identify and quickly remove illegally streamed content. These tools will streamline the reporting process, enabling faster action against piracy.
"We are helping the league to develop software that will simplify and accelerate the reporting process," explained Luca Colombo, Meta's Country Director for Italy.
The fight against online piracy is a significant concern for Serie A, as television rights constitute a substantial portion of the league's revenue. The partnership with Meta is a proactive step to address this issue and safeguard the financial interests of clubs like Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli, and Roma.
Serie A has secured lucrative deals with DAZN and Sky Italia to broadcast matches domestically until 2029, generating approximately €4.5 billion. However, the league recognizes the threat posed by illegal streaming services, which can significantly impact revenue.
Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Serie A, expressed hope that other platforms would follow Meta's lead in combating piracy. "The cooperation with Meta is a first step, and I hope that other platforms will join our efforts," he stated.
The Italian government has also taken steps to address online piracy, passing legislation last year that empowers the country's communication watchdog to swiftly shut down illegal streaming channels.
Recently, Italian police dismantled a massive video piracy network with over 22 million users across Europe, which allegedly generated €3 billion annually.
By collaborating with tech giants like Meta and implementing stricter regulations, Serie A aims to protect its valuable content and ensure a sustainable future for Italian football.
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