WSL scores five-year, ‘£65m’ domestic rights renewal with Sky Sports & BBC

31 Oct 2024 | Rory Jones

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The Women’s Professional League’s Limited (WPLL) has secured a ‘record’ five-year extension of the WSL’s domestic broadcast rights agreement with BBC Sport and Sky Sports.

The new deal takes effect from the 2025/26 season, running until the end of the 2029/30 campaign.

Although details were not disclosed, the renewal is reportedly worth £65m over its duration, marking the most lucrative deal for English professional women’s football.

The 2024/25 WSL season kicked off last month.

Under the latest extension, Sky will air up to 118 fixtures per season, with 78 matches set to air exclusively across its Sky and Sky Sports channels.

The Comcast-owned network will also now have the option of broadcasting games from the Women’s Championship and Women’s league Cup for the first time, including the final.

Of the remaining games, 34 will be shown non-exclusively between sky and the WPLL’s YouTube channel.

BBC meanwhile will broadcast 21 matches, of which 14 will air exclusively on BBC’s linear channels, with seven set to stream across BBC iPlayer and the network’s digital platforms.

*Sky and BBC’s WSL partnership was first signed in 2021.*

In addition, WSL players will receive access to in-game and post-game rights for their own use.

The public service broadcaster and pay-TV provider first acquired rights to the English women’s top-flight division in 2021.

Earlier this year, the league extended its deals with the two broadcasters for the 2024/25 season.

In August, the WPLL took over from the FA as the new governing body for the top two tiers of women’s football in England before the new season kicked off in September.

“Agreeing the next cycle of broadcast rights was a priority for us and we are very fortunate to have two premium broadcast partners in Sky and the BBC who believe in the future and value of women’s football as much as we do,” said Nikki Doucet, CEO of the WPLL.

“The growth of the game is undeniable, and this deal is another step in the right direction and positive news for the fans, the players and the clubs.

“Sky and the BBC are long-time backers and their contribution to the growth of the women’s game should not go without recognition.

“They provide excellent visibility coupled with first-class production values and we look forward to building on our partnership over the coming years.”

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