BBC Alba has picked up the rights to broadcast live games from the German Women’s Bundesliga from 30 May.
In an exclusive UK deal, the Scottish Gaelic language broadcaster will follow the newly resumed German women’s season to the conclusion of its 2019/20 season, with five live matches confirmed over the coming weeks.
It will be the first live sport broadcast by a free-to-air channel in the UK since the coronavirus lockdown in mid-March, with UK audiences able to see action between high profile clubs such as Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
Derek Mackay and Pauline MacDonald will present BBC Alba’s coverage of the live matches.
Scottish women’s football has seen several high-profile players at German clubs, including Lisa Evans, now at Arsenal, but who also played for both Turbine Potsdam and Bayern Munich after Glasgow City. Scottish international Sophie Howard, now at Reading, also played for Hoffenheim.
Commenting on the channel’s acquisition, Iseabail Mactaggart, MG ALBA’s director of multiplatform content and BBC ALBA’s executive for sport, said:
“We’re delighted to bring coverage of one of the strongest women’s leagues in Europe to BBC ALBA audiences – in doing so, we not only showcase excellence in women’s sport, we bring Gaelic to audiences that would otherwise not experience it as a lively, living language.
“We’re huge supporters of the growth of Scottish women’s football and in showcasing the FlyerAlarm Frauen-Bundesliga we’re providing high quality, live sports coverage at a time we know audiences need it, and demonstrating what is possible in women’s football.”
The move by the BBC’s Gaelic language channel builds on its commitment to broadcasting Scottish women’s football, having covered matches from the FIFA Women’s World Cup, UEFA Women’s Champions League, the Scottish national team’s UEFA Women’s Euro qualifiers, as well as being the broadcast partner for coverage of the Scottish Women’s Football’s domestic league, the SWPL.
BBC Alba says further live games from the Women’s Bundesliga will possibly be added to its schedule depending on outcomes as the season nears its conclusion.
The channel is available widely on major TV and online platforms, including Freeview in Scotland, Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
All matches will also be streamed live and available to watch via catch-up on BBC iPlayer.
Full details of live Women’s Bundesliga matches on BBC Alba can be found below.
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SATURDAY 30th MAY
Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim
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12:00 |
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FRIDAY 5th JUNE
Hoffenheim v Bayer Leverkusen
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18:15 |
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SATURDAY 13th JUNE
Essen v Wolfsburg
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12:00 |
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SUNDAY 14th JUNE
Bayern Munich v Jena
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13:00 |
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WEDNESDAY 17th JUNE
Wolfsburg v Freiburg
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13:00 |
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