Premium Calcio

Premium Calcio was a series of Italian television channels operated by the Premium Sport division of Mediaset, distributed on the Mediaset Premium pay-TV platform. Dedicated to football content, the channels formed part of the 'Calcio&Sport' offer alongside sports channels Premium Sport and Eurosport, and were available via digital terrestrial television and streaming on Premium Play and Premium Online. The service originated from Mediaset Premium's pay-per-view football offering, which launched with the 2004-2005 Serie A season and allowed viewers to purchase individual matches for 3 euros. On 7 January 2008, following Mediaset Premium's transformation from pay-per-view to a subscription platform, the Premium Calcio package was officially created, with channels initially named Premium Calcio 1-7. Over the years, the package expanded to include linear channels such as Premium Calcio 24 (later renamed Premium Calcio) and high-definition channels Premium Calcio HD, HD 1, and HD 2. The offering covered major competitions including Serie A, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Serie B, and others. Premium Calcio underwent several rebrandings and structural changes. In 2015, following the launch of Premium Sport, Premium Calcio refocused exclusively on football. The linear channel Premium Calcio became Premium Sport 2 on 8 February 2016. The high-definition channels closed on 1 June 2018, and all Premium Calcio channels ceased broadcasting on 1 August 2018. The service was known for its team-specific commentators, such as Raffaele Auriemma for Napoli and Carlo Pellegatti for Milan, catering to fan bases.

Premium Calcio's history is closely tied to the evolution of Mediaset Premium's football offerings. Prior to 2008, Mediaset Premium operated a pay-per-view service on seven channels numbered 1 to 7, launched with the 2004-2005 Serie A season. This service offered live coverage of home matches of eight teams, including Juventus, Milan, and Inter, at 3 euros per match. It competed with Cartapiù, and by the 2005-2006 season, the two together covered the entire Serie A on digital terrestrial. In 2006, Mediaset Premium added the UEFA Champions League (shared with Sky Italia until 2014) and selected Serie B matches. The 2007 Champions League final introduced the option of a 'biased' commentary. The FIFA Club World Cup was also added in 2007. On 7 January 2008, Mediaset Premium transitioned from pay-per-view to a subscription platform, creating the Premium Calcio package alongside Premium Gallery. The channels were renamed Premium Calcio 1-7. From summer 2008, the package became available on subscription, with some events still pay-per-view. On 1 July, the offering was restructured: a linear channel Premium Calcio 24 was launched, and the other channels became Diretta Calcio 1-6. In 2009, Mediaset Premium added UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup. On 17 August 2009, Premium Calcio HD was activated for high-definition broadcasts. On 22 August, Premium Calcio 24 was renamed simply Premium Calcio, and the Diretta Calcio channels reverted to Premium Calcio. In 2009, the non-football channel Premium MotoGP was also included in the package. On 24 August 2010, a second HD channel, Premium Calcio HD 2, was added, and the first was renamed Premium Calcio HD 1. On 31 March 2011, Premium acquired the remaining Serie B 2010-2011 rights from the bankrupt Dahlia TV. The first match aired on 1 April (Torino-Grosseto), and until 15 April, matches were free for Calcio package subscribers. On 1 July, three channels closed, and Serie B matches moved to Premium Calcio channels until summer 2015; from the 2012-2013 season, with the launch of Serie B TV, coverage was reduced to one anticipo and one posticipo. On 17 November, Premium Calcio 7 returned, replacing Premium MotoGP. On 22 May 2015, Mediaset acquired exclusive rights to the 'pacchetto c' for Serie A for 2015-2018, including pre-match footage from locker rooms. From 1 July, following the launch of Premium Sport, Premium Calcio returned to broadcasting only football content. On 20 July, rights to Ligue 1, Coupe de la Ligue, and Scottish Premiership were announced. On 14 September, Mediaset acquired exclusive rights to the UEFA Youth League. On 8 February 2016, the linear channel Premium Calcio was transformed into Premium Sport 2. On 1 June 2018, the high-definition channels closed. On 1 August 2018, all Premium Calcio channels ceased broadcasting.

• Mediaset Premium launches pay-per-view football service on seven channels with 2004-2005 Serie A season.

• UEFA Champions League and selected Serie B matches added to Mediaset Premium.

• Premium Calcio package officially created on 7 January 2008 as Mediaset Premium shifts to subscription.

• On 1 July 2008, Premium Calcio 24 linear channel launched and Diretta Calcio 1-6 introduced.

• Premium Calcio HD activated on 17 August 2009.

• On 22 August 2009, Premium Calcio 24 renamed Premium Calcio and Diretta Calcio channels revert to Premium Calcio.

• Premium Calcio HD 2 added on 24 August 2010; first HD channel renamed Premium Calcio HD 1.

• On 31 March 2011, Premium acquires Serie B rights from Dahlia TV.

• On 17 November 2011, Premium Calcio 7 returns replacing Premium MotoGP.

• On 22 May 2015, Mediaset buys exclusive Serie A 'pacchetto c' rights for 2015-2018.

• On 1 July 2015, Premium Calcio refocuses exclusively on football after Premium Sport launch.

• On 8 February 2016, linear channel Premium Calcio becomes Premium Sport 2.

• On 1 June 2018, HD channels close; on 1 August 2018, all Premium Calcio channels close.

Premium football content for Italian pay-TV subscribers, with team-specific commentary.

• Premium Calcio 1-7

  Initial pay-per-view and subscription channels for football matches.

• Premium Calcio 24

  Linear channel launched in 2008, later renamed Premium Calcio.

• Premium Calcio HD

  High-definition channel activated in 2009.

• Diretta Calcio 1-6

  Channels for live match broadcasts, later reverted to Premium Calcio names.

1. 1Premium Calcio - Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org
2. 2Premium Calcio - Wikidatawikidata.org