Cardinale: Serie A Used to Be Premier League, Like Hollywood Needs Urgent Innovation

FolioPitch.com – 08 October 2026 | AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has issued a stark warning to Italian football, declaring that Cardinale Serie A used to be Premier League like Hollywood needs urgent innovation. In an interview with Il Sole 24 Ore, the RedBird Capital founder compared the current state of Serie A to a complacent Hollywood that was disrupted by Netflix, urging immediate action to prevent further decline. Cardinale’s comments come at a time when Serie A is grappling with financial disparities compared to the English Premier League and seeks to regain its global stature.

Cardinale, whose RedBird Capital recently invested approximately $6 billion in a media conglomerate involving Skydance, Warner Bros Discovery, and Paramount, believes that the same innovative spirit that transformed Hollywood can be applied to Italian football. He emphasized that Cardinale Serie A used to be Premier League like Hollywood needs urgent innovation is not just a catchy phrase but a call to arms for all stakeholders in Italian football. “Serie A used to be the Premier League. Milan were at the top. What happened? In these industries, if you become complacent and fail to reinvent yourself, if you don’t approach every day with a sense of urgency to innovate, you’ll be crushed by the competition,” Cardinale said.

The American businessman, who took over AC Milan in 2022, has been vocal about the need for structural changes in Serie A. He pointed out that Hollywood’s complacency led to its disruption by Netflix, and Italian football risks a similar fate if it does not embrace innovation. “Hollywood became complacent. It thought it was protected. Then a DVD seller came along asking to licence the content. Netflix was born and crushed them, because technology had changed,” he explained. This analogy underscores the urgency for Serie A to adapt to the digital age and enhance its product for global audiences.

Cardinale’s vision for revitalizing Serie A includes improving the league’s marketability and appeal to international distributors. “I have said on several occasions that we need to improve the product, making it more appealing and interesting for distributors and the international audience as well,” he stated. He also acknowledged the resistance to change in Italy, noting that there is a cultural wariness that must be overcome. “In Italy, people are a bit wary of change and there is some resistance to innovation. Italian football must innovate. It must change with a sense of urgency, and I want to be one of the driving forces behind this change.”

When asked about potential synergies between RedBird’s media investments and Serie A, Cardinale remained open-minded but cautious. “We’ll see. I don’t know yet. I think DAZN is doing a great job. But anything is possible. We’ve got a lot to do and plenty of priorities to focus on before we start thinking about this,” he told Il Sole 24 Ore. This suggests that while RedBird’s media clout could eventually benefit Serie A, the immediate focus remains on strengthening the league’s core product.

The comparison between Hollywood and Italian football is not merely rhetorical. Both industries face disruptive forces: streaming giants and changing consumer habits. Serie A’s traditional broadcast model has been challenged by the rise of digital platforms, and its global reach has waned compared to the Premier League. Cardinale’s call for innovation echoes the need for a strategic overhaul, from enhancing matchday experiences to leveraging data and technology for fan engagement. Cardinale Serie A used to be Premier League like Hollywood needs urgent innovation serves as a rallying cry for Serie A clubs to invest in infrastructure, youth development, and digital transformation.

Moreover, Cardinale’s involvement in the Skydance-Warner Bros Discovery deal could signal a future where Serie A content is packaged and distributed more effectively worldwide. The $6 billion investment demonstrates RedBird’s commitment to media and entertainment, and it’s plausible that this expertise could be channeled into Serie A’s international rights strategy. However, Cardinale emphasized that any such move would be carefully considered: “Anything is possible,” he said, leaving the door open for future collaboration.

In conclusion, Gerry Cardinale’s warning is a wake-up call for Italian football. The league’s historical prestige is not enough to guarantee future success; without urgent innovation, Serie A risks falling further behind its competitors. As Cardinale aptly put it, Cardinale Serie A used to be Premier League like Hollywood needs urgent innovation—a message that should resonate with clubs, broadcasters, and fans alike. The time for complacency is over; the time for action is now.