RAI Secures TV Rights for the America’s Cup

The agreement will provide the Italian public with multi-channel coverage, accessible on free-to-air television, of both the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series in Naples plus all the Preliminary Regattas on the ‘Road to Naples.’ The deal also includes the regattas for both the Youth America’s Cup and the Women’s America’s Cup scheduled for Naples in 2027.

Italian America’s Cup coverage will take place on Rai's main channels and across all the public broadcaster’s platforms, including live content, in-depth reports, and original productions. The goal is to amplify the voices of the sailors as well as the host cities and venues, to create a lasting narrative that combines the intrigue, technology and human interest of the world’s oldest sporting trophy with the beauty of the locations hosting the regattas on the ‘Road to Naples.'

Rai’s overarching goal is to convey to the world the dynamic and vibrant energy of contemporary Italy aligned with the values of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup namely: innovation, competition, legacy and tradition, sustainability and ocean stewardship, and a pathway for Women & Youth sailors to shine on a global stage. 

Grant Dalton, Chairman of ACE Italy S.r.L, welcomed the appointment of Rai as the official broadcaster for the Italian territory saying: “We are acutely aware around the potential of holding the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Italy and it’s imperative that we deliver first class broadcast to the fans in Italy. Rai ticks every box with their multi-platform, live and on-demand channels alongside first-class production values that are key to the overall presentation of the most exciting America’s Cup in its 175-year history. Their work at the recent Winter Olympics was exemplary and for us as event, having Rai onboard is an important milestone as we build towards the main regatta in Naples in 2027.

Giampaolo Rossi, CEO of Rai-Radiotelevisione Italiana S.p.A., welcomed the appointment saying: “Having the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, as well as hosting Preliminary Regattas in Italy, is a significant undertaking that has wide cultural and sporting significance for the country. Tapping into the growing popularity of sailing, and in particular the America’s Cup, is something that Rai will approach with a multi-channel approach to bring the regatta and all the key stakeholders, personalities and sporting competition to life. We look forward to working with the impressive media and management teams at ACE S.r.L to deliver an outstanding broadcast property that reflects the history and modernity of this great competition.”

Rai is Italy’s largest media organisation and the national public broadcasting company of Italy. Rai operates across terrestrial, subscription and radio channels and is one of the biggest broadcasters in Europe and the biggest in Italy, with a high television audience share of about 35.9%. Rai is known as ‘the voice of Italy in the world in real time.’