Women's Professional Leagues Limited agrees new multi-year broadcast deals with Sky and the BBC

The Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) has agreed the most significant broadcast partnership ever for women’s football in the UK & Ireland following a new rights agreement with Sky and BBC Sport.

The new deal sees both broadcasters commit to the Barclays Women’s Super League (BWSL) for a further five years and means that fans can once again watch every match from the top tier of women’s professional football in England live.

As lead broadcast partner, Sky will show up to 118 matches, with 78 fixtures shown exclusively across Sky and Sky Sports channels including all matches from the closing weekend of the season. For the remaining matches, 34 will be shared non-exclusively between Sky and WPLL’s YouTube channel, and 7 broadcast on both Sky and the BBC.

In addition to the increased number of matches broadcast, Sky is committed to continue innovating within coverage and provide promotion and marketing support to the League.

The new partnership also gives Sky the option to show matches from the Barclays Women’s Championship and Women’s League Cup, including the Final. This brings both competitions onto Sky for the first time.

The BBC will broadcast live coverage of 21 matches, including 14 exclusive matches on BBC TV and seven shared on BBC iPlayer and BBC digital platforms. Audio commentary of selected matches will also be available on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sounds and on local BBC radio every weekend of match weeks. 

In line with WPLL’s strategy, players are at the heart of the new rights deal, with in game and post-game rights being granted to players to use for the first time.

WPLL worked with the Women’s Sport Group to agree the new broadcast deal.