YouTube, the global video platform owned by Google, has been named as the official match streaming platform for English soccer’s upcoming 2024-25 Women’s Super League (WSL) in the UK. This move is set to bring a minimum of 70 WSL games to YouTube during this season.
The announcement means that any WSL games not broadcast on TV as part of existing deals with pay-TV giant Sky or free-to-air public broadcaster BBC will be shown for free on YouTube. The matches will be available on the Barclays WSL channel and select fixtures from the second-tier Women’s Championship (WC) will also be featured on the Barclays WC channel.
This comes after both BBC and Sky renewed their domestic broadcast rights for the WSL's 2024-25 season back in April. The new contract allows Sky to broadcast up to 44 games per season, while BBC can air up to 22.
More than just live matches
In addition to live matches, YouTube will host ancillary content from around both leagues. This includes highlights packages, feature content, post-match player and staff interviews and more.
This move sees a shift away from FA Player, English soccer's FA governing body's in-house OTT service which previously hosted broadcasts from these leagues.
WSL and WC chief executive, Nikki Doucet, said:
“The FA Player has been a hugely important part of the growth of women’s football in recent years, and the free-to-air reach it has afforded our teams has been crucial in our development. Coupled with the high-quality coverage provided by our broadcast partners Sky Sports and the BBC, watching the women’s professional game here in the UK has never been easier.”
“As we continue our journey into the NewCo, YouTube will offer even more supporters, both current and future, the opportunity to enjoy our amazing leagues at a click of a button.”
Impact of moving to YouTube
Speaking about this significant change, Nikki Doucet, Chief Executive of both WSL and WC noted that this transition is part of a larger shift towards an independent governance structure known as NewCo. Voted through last November by league members, NewCo aims at taking control over these two divisions currently run by Football Association (FA).
Once formally established, each club within top two tiers will become shareholders under NewCo with former NIKE executive and investment banker Nikki Doucet as its first chief executive.
The FA has been managing the 12-team WSL since its inception 13 years ago. However, a takeover has been in the pipeline for some time now. In 2018, the FA expressed that it did not wish to manage WSL as a long-term commitment and was open to proposals for an alternative governance structure. The FA has also managed Women’s Championship since 2014. This move to YouTube is seen as part of this larger transition towards independent management and is expected to bring new opportunities for growth and exposure for women's soccer in the UK.
