List of national and non-national events considered to be of major importance for society which media service providers must ensure are broadcast on free-to-air schedules
Date: 2026-01-20
Institutions: Italy
Subjects: Italy, audiovisual industry, audiovisual production, audiovisual programme, cultural event, professional sport, provision of services, regulation of telecommunications, services of general interest, sporting event, television




C_202600384EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/384


20.1.2026






List of national and non-national events considered to be of major importance for society which media service providers must ensure are broadcast on free-to-air schedules
(C/2026/384)






HAVING REGARD TO Directive 2010/13/EU (as amended) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive);


HAVING REGARD TO Article 14(1) of Directive 2010/13/EU, which provides that: ‘Each Member State may take measures in accordance with Union law to ensure that broadcasters under its jurisdiction do not broadcast on an exclusive basis events which are regarded by that Member State as being of major importance for society in such a way as to deprive a substantial proportion of the public in that Member State of the possibility of following such events by live coverage or deferred coverage on free television. If it does so, the Member State concerned shall draw up a list of designated events, national or non-national, which it considers to be of major importance for society. It shall do so in a clear and transparent manner in due time. In so doing the Member State concerned shall also determine whether these events should be available by whole or partial live coverage or, where necessary or appropriate for objective reasons in the public interest, whole or partial deferred coverage’ and the following paragraph, which states that: ‘Member States shall immediately notify to the Commission any measures taken or to be taken pursuant to paragraph 1. Within a period of three months from the notification, the Commission shall verify that such measures are compatible with Union law and communicate them to the other Member States. It shall seek the opinion of the contact committee established pursuant to Article 29. It shall forthwith publish the measures taken in the Official Journal of the European Union and at least once a year the consolidated list of the measures taken by Member States.’


HAVING REGARD TO the provisions laid down by the European Commission in working document CC TVSF (97) 9/3, pursuant to Article 3a of Directive 89/552/EEC, as amended by Directive 97/36/EC, concerning the minimum conditions that must be met in order for the rules covered by this Decree to apply;


TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the requirements laid down by the European Commission in working document CC TVSF (97) 9/3 and the definition of a ‘qualified broadcaster’, as laid down in Article 1 of Annex A to AGCOM Decision No 131/12/CONS of 15 March 2012, which can be proposed once again in the current wording in the light of the European regulatory framework in force;


HAVING REGARD TO Legislative Decree No 9 of 9 January 2008, as amended, concerning the ‘Rules governing the ownership and marketing of audiovisual sports rights and the associated allocation of resources’;


HAVING REGARD TO Law No 234 of 24 December 2012, as amended, on ‘General provisions concerning Italy’s participation in the drafting and implementation of EU legislation and policies’;


HAVING REGARD TO Legislative Decree No 208 of 8 November 2021, as amended, ‘implementing Directive (EU) 2018/1808 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 amending Directive 2010/13/EU on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) in view of changing market realities’ (hereinafter known as the ‘TUSMA’ (Testo unico dei servizi di media audiovisivi – Single text on audiovisual media services));


HAVING REGARD TO Article 33 of Legislative Decree No 208 of 8 November 2021, entitled ‘Events of major importance for society and events of social interest or of major public interest’;


HAVING REGARD TO Article 33(3) of Legislative Decree No 208 of 8 November 2021, which provides that: ‘The Ministry shall, by means of a decree, and having consulted with the Authority, identify events of social interest or high interest to the public, including as defined in Article 2(1)(b) of Legislative Decree No 9 of 9 January 2008, offered to the Italian public free or in return for payment, by live or deferred coverage, access to which must be guaranteed for the protection of users, in compliance with appropriate standards of regularity, service continuity and image quality, as determined by the Authority pursuant to paragraph 4.’


HAVING REGARD TO the Decree of the Minister for Economic Development of 27 May 2022 on the ‘Identification of events of major importance and social interest’ adopted in implementation of Article 33(3) of Legislative Decree No 208 of 8 November 2021;


HAVING REGARD TO Decree-Law No 173 of 11 November 2022, converted, with amendments, into Law No 204 of 16 December 2022, laying down ‘Urgent provisions on the reorganisation of the powers of the Ministries’ and, in particular, Article 2 thereof, under which the Ministry of Economic Development was renamed the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy;


HAVING REGARD TO Article 33(1) of Legislative Decree No 208 of 8 November 2021, which provides that: ‘The Ministry, having consulted the Authority, shall draw up a list of designated events, national or non-national, which it considers to be of major importance for society, which media service providers shall ensure are broadcast, in whole or in part, by live coverage or deferred coverage on free television. The list shall be sent to the European Commission in accordance with Article 14(2) of Directive 2010/13/EU’.


HAVING REGARD TO the current list of events of major importance for society approved by AGCOM Decision No 131/12/CONS;


CONSIDERING that the aforementioned list should be updated in the light of the changes that have occurred in recent years in the social, sporting and cultural landscape and the new powers conferred on the Ministry in this area by Article 33(1);


HAVING REGARD TO Article 33(2) of the aforementioned Legislative Decree No 208 of 8 November 2021, pursuant to which: ‘The Authority shall issue a decision identifying appropriate means to ensure that media service providers do not exercise the exclusive rights they have purchased over the events referred to in paragraph 1 in such a way that a substantial proportion of the public in another Member State is deprived of the possibility of following events regarded by that Member State as being of importance for society and which said Member State ensures are broadcast, in whole or in part, by live coverage or deferred coverage on free television’ and point 5, as amended by Legislative Decree No 50 of 25 March 2024, which states that: ‘The Authority shall supervise the implementation of this article, applying the related sanctions pursuant to Article 67 and out-of-court settlement pursuant to Article 40’;


HAVING REGARD TO AGCOM Decision 667/10/CONS as amended and supplemented by Decision 392/12/CONS (‘Amendment to the Regulation on the transmission of short news reports on events of high public interest pursuant to Article 32-quater of the Single text on audiovisual media services’);


TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the public consultation carried out by the Ministry in connection with drawing up the list of events of major importance for society, the dissemination of which is ensured in whole or in part, by live coverage or deferred coverage on free television, launched on 30 March 2023 and the results of which are published on the Ministry’s website;


TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the opinion of the Italian Regulatory Authority for Communications referred to in the Ministry’s letter ref. 7852 of 13 June 2024;


HAVING REGARD TO the submission of the proposal, referred to in Article 33(1) of Legislative Decree No 208 of 8 November 2021, to amend the list of events of major importance for society – established in 2012 by the Regulatory Authority for Communications (AGCOM) by Decision 131/12/CONS – notified to the European Commission by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy on 26 March 2025;


HAVING NOTED the Decision of the European Commission of 25 June 2025 on the compatibility with Union law of measures to be taken by Italy pursuant to Article 14(1) of Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, published in the Official Journal of the European Union of 18 July 2025.

HEREBY DECREES AS FOLLOWS:



Article 1

(Subject-matter)


1.   This Decree identifies, within the meaning of Article 33(1) of Legislative Decree No 208 of 8 November 2021, national and non-national events considered to be of major importance for society, which must be broadcast on free-to-air, live or deferred schedules, in whole or in part, by qualified broadcasters.


2.   Events of social interest or of major public interest shall mean events for which there is widespread interest, that, in view of their content, target audience, the role they play and their importance, including economic, social, cultural and sporting importance, generate interest among the community or among a wide range of people.


3.   In order for an event to be included in the list referred to in Article 33 (1) of the TUSMA, at least two of the following four conditions must be met:






(a)


the event and its outcome are of special and widespread interest in Italy, including to persons other than those who ordinarily watch this type of event;










(b)


the event enjoys widespread recognition by the general public, is of distinct cultural importance and strengthens Italian cultural identity;










(c)


the event involves a national team in a specific sporting discipline in a major international tournament;










(d)


the event has traditionally been broadcast on free television and has enjoyed high viewing figures in Italy.






4.   A ‘qualified broadcaster’ is defined as a television broadcaster subject to Italian jurisdiction able to ensure that at least 80 % of the Italian population has the possibility of following events deemed to be of major importance for society on a free-to-air channel without additional costs.


5.   ‘Authority’ means the Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM – Italian Regulatory Authority for Communications) established by Law No 249 of 31 July 1997, as amended.



Article 2

(Events of major importance for society)


1.   The following events are deemed to be of major importance for society, as defined in Article 1(2) of this Decree:






a)


the summer and winter Olympic Games;










b)


the summer and winter Paralympic Games;










c)


the football World Cup final and all matches involving the Italian national team;










d)


the football European Cup final and all matches involving the Italian national team;










e)


all matches involving the Italian national football team, at home and away, in official competitions;










f)


the Champions League and Europa League finals and semi-finals when Italian teams are competing;










g)


the Conference League finals and semi-finals when Italian teams are competing










h)


the Coppa Italia football cup final










i)


the Supercoppa di Lega final










j)


Six Nations rugby matches involving the Italian national team;










k)


the Rugby World Cup final and semi-finals when the Italian national team is competing;










l)


the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) finals and semi-finals where the Italian team is competing;










m)


the Italian Tennis Open semi-finals and final where Italian players are competing;










n)


The United Cup semi-finals and final where the Italian national team is competing;










o)


Grand Slam semi-finals and finals where Italian players are competing;










p)


The ATP semi-finals and finals and the WTA Finals, the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000, where Italian players are competing;










q)


the Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy);










r)


the Tour de France (only stages being held in Italy);










s)


the cycling Road World Championships;










t)


the Basketball World Cup semi-final and final, where the Italian national team is competing;










u)


the Water Polo World Cup semi-final and final where the Italian national team is competing;










v)


The Volleyball World Cup semi-final and final where the Italian national team is playing;










w)


the Athletics World Championship Finals if they are being held in Italy or if Italian athletes are competing;










x)


the World Aquatics Championship Finals if they are held in Italy or if Italian swimmers are competing;










y)


the Gymnastics World Championship Finals if they are being held in Italy or if Italian gymnasts are competing;










z)


the World Fencing Championship Finals if they are being held in Italy or if Italian fencers are competing;










aa)


the World Figure Skating Championships if they are being held in Italy or if Italian skaters are competing;










bb)


the Alpine Ski World Cup Finals if they are being held in Italy or if Italian skiers are competing;










cc)


the Italian Formula One Grand Prix;










(dd)


the Italian MotoGP;










ee)


the Sanremo music festival;










ff)


the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest;










gg)


the opening night of the opera season at La Scala in Milan;










hh)


the opening night of the opera season at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples;










(ii)


the New Year concert at La Fenice Theatre in Venice.






2.   The events referred to in points (c) and (d) of paragraph 1 must be broadcast live and in full. The television broadcasters have the authority to decide on how the other events are to be broadcast: free-to-air, live or deferred, in whole or in part.



Article 3

(Entry into force)


1.   For the events referred to in points a), c), d), e), f), j), k), l), m), q), s), t), u), v), cc), dd), ee), gg) and ii) of Article 2(1), already included in the list adopted by AGCOM Decision 131/12/CONS, the provisions of this Decree shall be immediately applicable.


2.   For the events referred to in points b), g), h), i), n), o), p), r), w), x), y), z), aa), bb), ff) and hh) of Article 2(1), the rights to which were acquired before the publication of this Decree in the Official Gazette, the provisions shall take effect upon expiry of the current licences.



Article 4

(External referral)


1.   In accordance with Article 33 of Legislative Decree No 208 of 8 November 2021, the Italian Regulatory Authority for Communications is responsible for monitoring compliance with the provisions implementing the subject matter of this Decree.





This Decree shall be sent to the competent inspection bodies and published in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic.
Rome, 25 June 2025.


The Minister for Enterprises


and Made in Italy

Adolfo URSO
            





ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/384/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)