Today MP & Silva acquired the right to represent the United States’ most watched sports league, the National Football League, (NFL) for 42 territories across Europe. MP & Silva continues to execute on its wider American media rights expansion strategy having already partnered with other North American leagues, such as the NBA, MLB’s World Baseball Classic, MLS, and ATP tennis, to distribute American sports internationally.
Under the agreement, MP & Silva will be the NFL’s agent to distribute television and select digital rights for the 2015 through 2019 NFL seasons, helping expand the NFL’s growing fan base in Europe and developing a new generation of American football fans globally. MP & Silva has a world track-record of successful partnerships, and by representing the NFL along with properties such as Serie A and Roland Garros, it now has one of the strongest sports rights portfolios in the world.
The representation covers NFL television and digital simulcast rights of pre-season and regular season games, all playoff games, Pro Bowl, and the Super Bowl. The deal also includes NFL Red Zone, compelling NFL Network programming content, and key calendar events such as the NFL Draft.
Carlo Pozzali, Founding Partner of MP & Silva, said: "Our partnership with the NFL is a significant milestone in the successful story of MP & Silva. Our position today means we are a key driver of maximizing the NFL’s international broadcast, distributing content to a total of 42 territories, reaching a potential TV audience of 220 million households around the world.”
Roberto Dalmiglio, Chief Commercial Officer of MP & Silva, added: "We are glad that the NFL recognises our leadership in the market and we are looking forward to using our network of broadcasters to increase coverage and drive new audiences to America’s top sport”
Michael Markovich, Director of International Media & Business Development, said: “We are excited to partner with MP & Silva in [the noted below] European markets where they have demonstrated a strong understanding of market dynamics and partnerships. We are looking forward to working together to grow our media footprint and continue to serve our fans in the region. “
MP & Silva will be the sole agency for a broad range on NFL media rights in the following territories: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and the Vatican City.