NEW £21m BBC AND SKY DEAL WILL ‘MONSTER UP’ WSL

THE FA will today announce the deal, revealed by Sportsmail on March 9, which will bring the Women’s Super League broadcasting revenues for the first time. The new £21million, threeyear rights package will see Sky Sports and the BBC split coverage from next season. It is thought the deal will bring in £7m a season for the three years for the WSL, with an annual value of £8m when the promotional activity Sky will undertake is included. The US women’s national basketball league (WNBA) deal with ESPN is still the most valuable in women’s sport, worth £18million a year but it is a significant moment for women’s football. The money will be split 75/25 between WSL clubs and the second tier. Some of the funds will be spent on bringing broadcasting facilities up to scratch and improving pitch quality. Sky’s involvement will commercialise and promote the WSL like never before — ‘monstering the whole thing up’ to quote one FA source. Sky will broadcast two games a weekend. The BBC will show one, mostly on BBC Two but four a season on BBC One. The BBC’s commitment to screening 18 of its 22 games a season across their flagship channels will bring the WSL huge visibility. There will be four broadcasting slots: 6.30pm on Friday, 11.30am on Saturday and 12.30pm and 6.30pm on Sunday. Sky, who get first pick, could incorporate the WSL into its prime Sunday Premier League coverage. The deal does not make WSL clubs financially sustainable, and Manchester City and

Chelsea will continue to rely on their parent clubs’ investment. But the FA expect a ‘significant lift’ on peak weekly audiences, in the ‘low hundreds of thousands’. The FA also accept back-up pitches must be provided by clubs, and media facilities and access have to improve. Despite the need for coverage, access to some WSL clubs remains tougher than their Premier League counterparts.