Sky Sports and the BBC have reported record-breaking viewership figures for their coverage of Women's Super League (WSL) matches over the weekend.
The Manchester derby on Sky and Chelsea vs Liverpool on the BBC brought in the highest viewership figures yet for the WSL, coinciding with a break in Premier League action for men's international matches.
Sunday's Manchester derby between Manchester City and Manchester United at Old Trafford saw a record average viewing figure of 485,000 on Sky Sports, peaking at 589,000. This significant increase in viewership marks an important milestone in the growing popularity of women's football.
Comparatively, last year's record was set during a match between Liverpool and Chelsea, which attracted a peak audience of 482,000 and an average audience of 381,000. This represented a 21% increase from the previous season’s largest average viewership.
These latest figures indicate an additional increase of over 100,000 average viewers from last year - a noteworthy achievement indeed.
Chelsea and Liverpool draw big numbers on the BBC
Meanwhile, Saturday’s Chelsea vs Liverpool clash also drew record numbers on the BBC. The match ended with Chelsea triumphing over Liverpool with a scoreline of 5-1. It saw an impressive average audience of 796,000 viewers and peaked at 955,000.
In addition to these figures, there were also 141,000 requests to watch this fixture on BBC iPlayer.
This match featured standout performances including Lauren James scoring a hat-trick for her club.
Before this match, Arsenal vs Aston Villa held the title for most-watched game of this current season (2023/24), pulling in an audience of 766,000 on the BBC.
Popularity of women's football on the rise
These recent viewing records set by the Women's Super League on the BBC and Sky Sports indicate a growing interest in women's football.
With an increase of over 100,000 viewers from last year on Sky Sports and record-breaking figures on the BBC, it's clear that the sport is gaining traction among fans.
These record-breaking numbers are not just a testament to the rising popularity of women’s football but also a reflection of the quality of coverage provided by broadcasters like Sky Sports and the BBC.
As football fans continue to engage with the women's game, we can anticipate even higher viewership numbers in the future.
