Sky Sports and BBC Sport have announced a deal that will see the two broadcasters become the home of live Barclays FA Women’s Super League on TV from the start of the 2021/22 season.
The landmark multi million-pound agreement three-year agreement, reported to be worth £8m per season, will see more access to live televised English women’s football than ever before, until at least the summer of 2024.
Sky Sports will broadcast live coverage of the top tier of English women’s football for the first time, taking over from BT Sport as the WSL’s primary live broadcast partner.
The pay-TV broadcaster will to show up to 44 matches, with a minimum of 35 being screened across Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Football, with some matches also shown simultaneously on Sky Sports Mix and Sky One.
In addition, the BBC will also continue to showcase the league for free-to-air viewers by showcasing 22 live games per season, with a minimum of 18 matches to be broadcast on BBC One and BBC Two.
It will be the first time that the corporation has broadcast WSL matches on its main network TV channels, having previously shown them only via the Red Button.
Matches not selected for live broadcast by Sky Sports or the BBC will continue to be streamed live on The FA Player.
Commenting on the new TV deal with Sky Sports and the BBC, Kelly Simmons, FA director of the women’s professional game said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports and to extend our relationship with the BBC as our domestic broadcast partners from the 2021-22 season in what is a game-changing agreement that will transform the WSL.
“Visibility and investment are such key factors in growing any women’s sport, and we are delighted that Sky Sports and the BBC have made a commitment to broadcast more live women’s football than we have ever seen before, while signifying its true value.”
Kathryn Swarbrick, FA director of commercial and marketing, added:
“We are absolutely thrilled to have secured this game-changing partnership with Sky Sports and the BBC that will support taking the women’s game to another level.
“Both broadcasters have a vision for women’s football that very much aligns with our own, and that was made clear during the tender process where they outlined some very exciting plans for showcasing the Barclays FA Women’s Super League. We are really looking forward to working with them.”
This is the first time that the TV rights to the WSL have been sold separately from the men’s game, with clubs in the league receiving a proportion of the revenue. Part of the income will also be distributed to clubs in the FA Women’s Championship to aid their development.
This partnership is a landmark moment for the league, with more visibility than ever before, and the agreement beginning just a year before the 2022 UEFA Women’s European Championships are due to be hosted in England.
Sky Sports says that the WSL will become one its “flagship offerings”, alongside its Premier League, EFL, Scottish football and international football coverage.
Rob Webster, managing director of Sky Sports, said:
“We are delighted to add the WSL to our expanding football portfolio. Our goal is to bring our customers more of what they love, and we are certain the league will be a success with our football-hungry viewers.
“We will be giving the WSL the full Sky Sports treatment with lengthy build-ups and reaction to all live matches, plus a daily narrative of the league across Sky Sports News and our digital platforms.
“We look forward to working with the FA and building a close partnership that helps grow the women’s game now and for future generations. With the addition of the WSL, Sky Sports truly is the home of football.”
Alongside regular live WSL games on terrestrial television, the BBC will also continue to show highlights on The Women’s Football Show, as well as cover the Women’s FA Cup, Team GB’s journey in the Summer Olympics, and provide goals and highlights clips on the BBC Sport website and social channels.
The BBC will also broadcast exclusive terrestrial coverage of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 tournament in England, where every game will be broadcast live on BBC TV.
On retaining WSL coverage, Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, said:
“This is fantastic news for sports fans and for women’s football. We are delighted to offer the FA Women’s Super League a free-to-air platform to ensure the sport, and the players, connect with the widest possible audience.
“With UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 on the horizon, giving fans more opportunities to watch the Barclays FA Women’s Super League will build the excitement for a home tournament.”
Further details on the WSL’s new domestic TV agreement regarding broadcast timings and where and when fans will be able to watch all the action will be released ahead of the 2021/22 season.
For a full list of all forthcoming major football matches on the box, visit SOTB’s dedicated football on TV listings page.
