The Women’s Super League (WSL) is on the brink of a groundbreaking deal worth up to £20 million annually, with plans to broadcast every match live starting from next season.
The current broadcast agreement, valued at £7.75 million per year, is slated to conclude at the end of the 2023/24 season. Sky currently broadcasts 35 matches per season, while the BBC airs another 22, with the remaining games streamed for free on the FA’s website.
As part of the ongoing transition of the WSL and Women’s Championship to a stand-alone body called NewCo, securing a new domestic broadcast partnership is a key priority. NewCo CEO Nikki Doucet has expressed a commitment to exploring all potential options for the league’s next broadcast deal.
Reports indicate that the WSL’s tender document to broadcasters outlines plans to offer all 132 league games, with 56 exclusively sold and the remaining 76 available on a non-exclusive basis. The league aims to secure a new TV contract worth between £15 million and £20 million per year, doubling the value of the current deal.
This move mirrors successful strategies employed by other leagues, such as the National Women’s Super League in the USA, which secured a £50 million per year deal by selling packages to multiple broadcasters.
While the WSL has yet to secure the coveted 3 pm Saturday slot, which former England international Karen Carney identified as crucial for the sport’s growth, efforts to increase visibility during men’s international breaks have shown promising viewership figures. However, negotiations with the Premier League and EFL to revise the UEFA blackout policy are ongoing, with Saturday lunchtime and Sunday afternoons remaining the primary kick-off times for WSL matches.
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