CBS Sports continue to gobble up as many soccer rights as possible. In its latest acquisition, the U.S. rights to Women’s Super League moves to CBS Sports and Paramount+ beginning in the summer of 2022.
The terms of the deal include CBS Sports now becoming the exclusive U.S. English-language rights holder of the Women’s Super League, one of Europe’s top women’s soccer leagues. Matches will appear across Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network, with coverage during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 WSL seasons.
Across the two seasons, CBS Sports will deliver 57 Women’s Super League matches. CBS Sports Network will air a select number of those matches exclusively, with the majority streaming on Paramount+.
CBS Sports’ Executive VP Programming Dan Weinberg had this to say about the announcement:
“The FA Women’s Super League features some of the most recognizable soccer brands in the world, and is an excellent addition to CBS Sports’ premium soccer portfolio. We look forward to bringing the exciting action of the BFAWSL to fans across Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network. With our wide array of soccer properties and robust year-round match coverage, we are a must-have for soccer fans.”
“We are delighted to be partnering with CBS Sports for the next two seasons and are looking forward to the coverage they beam to households across the United States,” said James Ralley, the Football Association’s head of broadcast and media rights. “Their delivery of soccer, whether men’s or women’s, is of the highest quality, and their reputation within the industry is one that is growing rapidly. We look forward to working with them over the next few years.”
Women’s Super League: Viewing options
With the news that the Women’s Super League moves to CBS Sports, what does that mean for the current rights-holders? Up until now, games from the Women’s Super League were available for free from the league’s official website. It is understood that will continue as well as games being available from current rights-holders ATA Football and NBC Sports. Under its current deal, more than 100 games were shown this season.
The Women’s Super League features 12 clubs, including popular teams such as Manchester United and players including Arsenal and U.S. Women’s National midfielder Tobin Heath and Chelsea star forward Sam Kerr, the all-time leading goalscorer in NWSL history.
READ MORE: Women’s Super League TV schedule
Paramount+, a leading destination for U.S. soccer fans, now features more than 2,000 live matches each year with the addition of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League competition. The extensive portfolio of soccer properties includes:
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Champions League,
Europa League
Europa Conference League
Italy’s Serie A
Scottish Premiership
Argentine league
Brasileirāo
Asian Cup
AFC World Cup qualifiers
AFC Champions League
NWSL
The Women’s Cup
Concacaf World Cup qualifiers
Concacaf Nations League
And more.
Background details
CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour home of CBS Sports, is widely available through all major cable, satellite and telco distributors. Plus it is on OTT streaming service providers including YouTube TV, fuboTV, DirecTV and Hulu+Live TV.
The FA Women’s Super League began in 2011 as an eight-team, semi-professional competition. Over the last 10 years, the league has become fully professional and is now home to 12 clubs, all of which operate full-time. The campaign runs from September to May, with Chelsea being the current league title holders. Within the 10 previous seasons, Chelsea have won the league title four times, Arsenal three times, Liverpool twice and Manchester City once.
