Broadcast Blackout For Women’s World Cup Threatened
The sports ministers of five European countries have come together to urge broadcasters and FIFA to ‘quickly reach an agreement’ on the unsold Women’s World Cup TV rights, with a European television blackout threatened.
With only 50 days until the tournament commences, there are still no major broadcast deals agreed in Europe for the competition.
In a recent joint statement, sports ministers from the UK, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy ‘acknowledged with concern’ that an agreement was not in place, but said they are ‘confident’FIFA and broadcasters’ will ‘find a common path‘.
However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has threatened a European TV blackout if rights offers were not improved.
Infantino described the latest offers from broadcasters as a “slap in the face” and “disappointing”. He admitted European broadcasters had offered world football’s governing body $1m-$10m (£800,000-£8m) for the rights, compared with $100m-$200m for the men’s World Cup.
Rights offers for previous tournaments were bundled together with other events, including the men’s World Cup, but FIFA has now separated the bidding process.
Infantino said two weeks ago that discussions were “moving”.
Last year the Women’s World Cup and European Championships were added to the ‘crown jewels’ of British sporting events, which require free-to-air coverage. This comes after a record global audience of 365 million watched last summer’s Euro 2022 in England, with 50 million tuning in for England’s victory over Germany in the Wembley final.
The World Cup which will be hosted by both Australia and New Zealand starts on 20th July.
