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The FA Women’s Super League (FA WSL) will be broadcast on by the BBC and Sky Sports, under the terms of a ‘landmark’ agreement with the Football Association (FA).
Under the terms of the three-year deal, Sky will provide coverage of 44 fixtures, with a minimum of 35 broadcast across its Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Football channels, whilst some matches will be shown simultaneously on Sky One and Sky Sports Mix.
“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,” said Kelly Simmons, FA Director of the Women’s Professional Game.
“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.”
In addition to Sky, the BBC will showcase 22 live games per season, with at least 18 fixtures covered on the free-to-air BBC One and BBC Two channels. The public service broadcaster has previously shown elite womens’ football on its BBC IPlayer and Red Button offerings.
Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport, added: “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.”
Additionally, any games not selected for broadcast on either SKy or the BBC will be broadcast by the FA’s own OTT service, the FA Player.
Both agreements will run into the summer of 2024, significantly boosting exposure of the women’s professional game, beginning a year prior to England’s hosting of the 2022 UEFA Women’s European Championship.
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,” remarked Kathryn Swarbrick, FA Director of Commercial and Marketing.
“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.”
Dawn Airey, Chair of the WSL and FA Women’s Championship board, also said: “The board have set out an ambitious strategy to have the best professional women’s sports leagues in the world. We believe that having this new partnership with Sky Sports and the BBC will go a long way to helping us achieve that.”
