WSL seeks an increase of more than 150% with broadcasters for their domestic TV deal
The Women’s Super League (WSL) will seek an increase of more than 150 per cent in the value of their domestic TV deal when they issue the tender document next month.
The current deal with Sky Sports and the BBC is worth £7.5 million a year, and the WSL will be targeting around £20 million from the next contract to reflect the rise in interest after the success of England’s Lionesses.
The WSL are set to follow the Premier League’s example by making more games available for broadcast but they may find it difficult as the market for live matches is really packed.
The women’s game needs its own set day of games – that’s preferably not on Sundays.
Sky is said to be planning to bid as well as TNT Sports – who are supportive of proposals for the WSL to get the Saturday 3 pm broadcast slot, a move which would require the partial lifting of UEFA’s Article 48.
The BBC also want WSL games, but as they are only contributing around £750,000 a year to the existing deal they are unlikely to fund a huge increase.