Italy's access to its favourite sport was hit by a bombshell Tuesday when the TV and radio rights for the non-pay-TV broadcasting of Serie A and B soccer matches remained unsold.
An extraordinary general meeting of the Soccer League, called to weigh competing bids, rejected all of them.
Media groups including state broadcaster RAI and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset have until the weekend, when the Serie A season starts, to sort out the row.
''The general assembly...has rejected the bids for soccer's TV and radio rights, which therefore remain unsold,'' announced Adriano Galliani of AC Milan, who chaired the League meeting in the absence of League President Antonio Matarrese.
''We're really sorry that the Serie A and B championships are starting without being seen by people who don't have pay TV but we were given offers that couldn't be accepted,'' Galliani said.
''We've said No to the TV bids but there's time to do a lot of things from now until Saturday, Italian style,'' said Palermo Chairman Maurizio Zamparini, referring to a reputed Italian ability to find satisfactory last-minute solutions.
The satellite rights to matches are already held by Rupert Murdoch's Sky Italia.
Encrypted viewing is also available on RAI and Mediaset for people who have set-top boxes.
