RAI SECURES THE FREE-TO-AIR RIGHTS TO THE 38TH AMERICA’S CUP
America’s Cup Partnership (ACP) announces that the exclusive free-to-air media rights in Italy for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup have been awarded to Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI)
The agreement will ensure coverage across multiple channels and all platforms of the public broadcasting service, including live broadcasts, in-depth programming, and original content.
RAI will launch its national television coverage in the lead-up to the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta in Sardinia, scheduled for May 21–24, 2026, and will continue through the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Match, which will begin in Naples on July 10, 2027. This will provide Italian audiences with free-to-air coverage of all events, including the Louis Vuitton Cup, all Preliminary Regattas, as well as the Youth America’s Cup and the Women’s America’s Cup, both set to take place in Naples in 2027.
Grant Dalton, President of ACE Italy S.r.l., stated: «We are fully aware of the significance and potential of hosting the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Italy, and we believe it is imperative to ensure outstanding television coverage for the Italian public. RAI fully meets all requirements thanks to its multiplatform offering, with live and on-demand content, as well as production standards of excellence—key elements in showcasing what promises to be the most exciting America’s Cup in its 175-year history. The work delivered during the recent Winter Olympic Games was exemplary, and for us as an event, having RAI on board represents a fundamental milestone on the road to the final races in Naples in 2027».
Giampaolo Rossi, Chief Executive Officer of Rai – Radiotelevisione Italiana S.p.A., welcomed the appointment, stating: «Hosting in Italy both the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup and the Preliminary Regattas represents an important commitment, with significant cultural and sporting impact for the country. Capturing the growing popularity of sailing—and of the America’s Cup in particular—is a challenge RAI will address with a multi-channel approach, highlighting the races, the key figures, the stakeholders, and the sporting competition itself. We look forward with great enthusiasm to working with the outstanding media and management teams of ACE S.r.l. to deliver a high-profile television product capable of reflecting both the history and the modernity of this great competition».
