The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced on Thursday that it has reached new broadcast deals with ESPN, CBS Sports, Prime Video and Scripps Sports that will significantly increase the league’s visibility and reach in 2024. Each partner has agreed to a four-year deal and will broadcast at least 20 games per season.
Prime Video will stream regular-season matches on Friday nights, while Scripps’ ION network will showcase two prime-time matches on Saturdays. CBS will air a package of regular-season matches and stream them on Paramount+, while ESPN will show matches across multiple channels and stream them on ESPN+ in English and Spanish.
In addition to the increased broadcast options, the new deals will also double the number of cameras for matches and help with video replay review efforts. The NWSL will also produce and distribute a direct-to-consumer package for the remainder of the regular-season schedule.
For the playoffs, Prime Video, CBS, and ESPN/ABC will broadcast the quarterfinals and semifinals. CBS will continue to air the championship game in prime time and make it available to stream on Paramount+.
This major win for the NWSL comes with its challenges, particularly in shifting viewership habits for loyal fans. With games spread across multiple networks, the league and its broadcast partners will need to invest in significant promotion efforts. The expanded playoffs are also sparking some concerns about maintaining the quality and meaningfulness of the regular season.
While the news of the new broadcast deals is largely positive, there are still some details that raise questions. The NWSL didn’t manage to get the entirety of its inventory into the broadcast partnerships, leaving some uncertainty regarding the potential for paywalled viewing platforms for the remaining regular-season games.
Reacting to the announcement, CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus described the NWSL as the premier property for the network, emphasizing their commitment to women’s sports. NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman highlighted the league’s efforts to address international rights and showcase the talent pool globally. The NWSL Players Association expressed pleasure at the increased visibility of the athletes and the record-breaking revenue, while also looking forward to discussions on how the revenue will impact players directly.
This new era of broadcasting for the NWSL is set to begin in 2024 and will significantly increase the league’s exposure and revenue. The expanded partnerships and increased production quality are seen as a springboard for even bigger opportunities in the future.