Women’s Super League Nets Bumper Sky Sports & BBC Broadcast Deal

The Football Association [The FA], Sky Sports and the BBC have today announced a landmark rights deal that will see more access to live women’s football than ever before, with a three-year agreement to broadcast the Barclays FA Women’s Super League (FAWSL) with effect from the 2021/2022 season.

The FAWSL will benefit from increased exposure across Sky Sports and the BBC’s free-to-air channels in what is a multi-million pound deal which will run with both broadcasters until the summer of 2024.

Sky Sports has secured the right 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.

The BBC have made a commitment to showcase the league to even more viewers by showcasing 22 live games per season, with a minimum of 18 matches on mainstream, free-to-air channels, BBC One and BBC Two.

This is the first time that the rights to the Barclays FAWSL 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 Barclays FA Women’s Super 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.

Kelly Simmons, The FA’s Director of the Women’s Professional Game, said of the deal: “We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports and to extend our relationship with the BBC as our domestic broadcast partners from the 2021/2022 season in what is a game-changing agreement that will transform the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.

“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, The FA’s 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.”

Dawn Airey, Chair of the FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship Board, commented: “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. ”

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.”

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