November 10 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the US has unveiled what will be a financially game-changing set of domestic broadcast deals worth $60 million per season for the next four years.
The new agreements see rights split in four deals with CBS, ESPN, Amazon, and Scripps Sports. The four deals will give the NWSL cross-platform coverage for the NWSL via cable/broadcast television and streaming.
The scale of the increase is remarkable with the NWSL previously only earning $1.5 million per season from broadcast rights.
“These partnerships fundamentally change the game for our league and the players who take the pitch each week,” said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman.
“We have taken great care to ensure our games are discoverable by increasing our reach in order to expose new audiences to everything that makes our league special, without compromising the economic value of our product. This is the beginning of our future.”
The broadcast package split will see CBS air a minimum of 21 games per year, including the NWSL Championship on both network television and Paramount+.
ESPN will carry 20 games per season, including three in the playoffs, across ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ channels. ESPN’s deal includes multi-language rights in Latin America.
Amazon will carry 27 games per season, including one playoff game, a season opener, and a planned weekly showcase on Friday nights.
Scripps Sports, which broadcasts via over-the-air local and national networks, will carry 50 games per year, based on 25 exclusive Saturday night doubleheaders on Ion. The company also gains the rights to the 2024 NWSL Draft.
“The evolution of women’s sports — and specifically the NWSL — demonstrates that there is a growing audience for remarkable athletes and world-class competition, regardless of gender,” said Marie Donoghue, Amazon vice president of U.S. sports content and partnerships.
This weekend the NWSL closes out its 2023 season with its Championship final between NJ/NY Gotham FC and OL Reign.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714643401labto1714643401ofdlr1714643401owedi1714643401sni@n1714643401osloh1714643401cin.l1714643401uap1714643401