Page 3 - Women's Soccer Scene No.11 2020-21

The Football Association [The FA], Sky Sports and the BBC have 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 with effect from the 2021-22
season.
The multi million-pound agreement with Sky Sports will see the broadcaster show the top
tier of women's football for the first time. The organisation has 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. Previously, games have been shown live on BBC iPlayer and
Red Button. The agreements with both broadcasters will run until the summer of 2024.
This is the first time that the rights to the Barclays FA WSL 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: "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 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, 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. "
Rob Webster, Managing Director of Sky Sports, said: "We are delighted to add the
Barclays FA Women's Super League to our expanding football portfolio. Our goal is to bring our
customers more of what they love, and we are certain the league will be a success with our
football-hungry viewers.
"We will be giving the Barclays FA Women's Super League the full Sky Sports treatment
with lengthy build-ups and reaction to all live matches, plus a daily narrative of the league across
Sky Sports News and our digital platforms.
"We look forward to working with The FA and building a close partnership that helps grow
the women's game now and for future generations. With the addition of the Barclays FA Women's
Super League, Sky Sports truly is the home of football."
Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport, said: "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."
Issue no. 11 - 1 April 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk