Sky Italia have re-joined ERC's broadcasting family and will bring the Heineken Cup to the Italian audience. Sky Italia have signed a new two-year agreement with ERC under which they will show a home Heineken Cup match involving an Italian team each of the first four Rounds of the Pools stage.
Sky Italia will screen a Heineken Cup Pool match involving an Italian team playing at home in each of the six Rounds of the tournament. The first four rounds of matches will kick-off at 14.30 local time and will be broadcast in full with a 30-minute tape delay. Coverage will start on Sky Italia at 15.00 local time.
"Sky Italia will greatly enhance the stature of the Heineken Cup in Italy and we are delighted to have them back on board," said ERC Chairman Jean-Pierre Lux.
"This is a very significant deal for ERC and represents a huge boost for our tournaments in Italy. We believe that this partnership underlines the growing strength and appeal of the Heineken Cup across Europe."
The deal between ERC and Sky Italia also incorporates the European Challenge Cup and European Shield. The initial matches Sky Italia will broadcast are:
ROUND 1: Benetton Treviso v Leinster
ROUND 2: Rugby Calvisano v London Wasps
ROUND 3: Benetton Treviso v Bath Rugby
ROUND 4: Rugby Calvisano v Biarritz Olympique