<p>England’s Women’s Super League (<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-super-league-tv-schedule/">WSL</a>) is experiencing a major boost in viewership so far this season. Ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, which began in September, the league announced a new broadcasting partnership. Sky Sports and the BBC retained media rights to half of the division’s 132 total fixtures throughout the season. </p>



<p>However, the other half of the league’s matches have found a new home. These 66 annual WSL games were previously available to stream on the FA Player. The FA’s platform is a free service that airs several English soccer competitions. Nevertheless, the WSL <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/womens-super-league-inks-youtube-deal-as-streaming-home/">inked a deal</a> earlier this summer with YouTube.</p>



<p>The move means that all 66 non-televised WSL matches can now be watched on the league’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BarclaysWSL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">official YouTube channel</a>. Unlike league fixtures on Sky Sports and the BBC, soccer fans from all over the world have access to these YouTube games.</p>



<h2>More than a quarter of a million people watched a recent WSL game</h2>



<p>According to viewership figures obtained by <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/10/womens-super-league-football-youtube-streaming" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Guardian</a></em>, WSL’s deal with YouTube is already paying off. The news outlet claims that the previous most-streamed WSL game on the FA Player garnered just over 78,000 views. This specific match was Arsenal’s home fixture against Bristol City during the 2023/24 season. The Gunners thumped their opponents by a score of 5-0 on the day.</p>



<p>While the current WSL campaign is still young, YouTube viewership is showing incredible growth. For instance, more than 250,000 people streamed a recent women’s match between Arsenal and Leicester in late September. The figure represents a new viewership record for a non-televised WSL match. Arsenal grabbed a slim 1-0 victory in the game thanks to a lone goal from Frida Maanum.</p>



<p>Overall, WSL matches streamed on YouTube so far this season have already reached over 1.5 million total views. This figure also only counts live fixtures and not match replays, which are also available on the media platform.</p>



<p>The impressive viewership total is also likely directly amplified by the fact that Arsenal has had two of their first three WSL games on YouTube. Arsenal women continue to lead the pack in fan interest among WSL teams. In fact, the Gunners previously had by far the most <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/arsenal-women-will-make-emirates-stadium-home-next-season/">match-going fans</a> of any team in the division last season.</p>



<p>Along with the massive viewership figures for the Leicester game, a recent WSL matchup between Arsenal and Everton also reached 148,000 views. The two teams eventually played out to a scoreless draw. The game, which was played at Emirates Stadium, was attended by over 25,000 fans.</p>



<h2>Negotiations over the new WSL broadcasting deal continue</h2>



<p>WSL’s deal with YouTube coincided with the Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) taking over control of the division. The Football Association (FA) previously ran the professional women’s league. The WPLL is an independent, club-owned organization. </p>



<p>Strong viewership figures in the early stages of the 2024/25 WSL season are good news for the league and the WPLL. Sky Sports and the BBC are currently in their final year under contract to broadcast half of the division’s figures. Negotiations, according to <em>The Guardian</em>, remain ongoing between all parties but the WSL could likely see a significant boost in broadcasting revenue in the future.</p>



<p><em>Photo: Imago</em></p>


YouTube deal helps WSL more than triple viewership figures

Women's Super League (WSL) matches streamed on YouTube have already reached over 1.5 million total views so far this season.

<p>Women’s Super League (WSL) officials have revealed a significant change in their broadcasting schedule ahead of the 2024/25 season. In the United Kingdom, league representatives previously announced that their domestic partnership would continue with Sky Sports and the BBC for one more year. As a result, the networks would share the broadcasting rights to exactly half of the WSL’s 132 league fixtures during the upcoming campaign.</p>



<p>The remaining 66 matches in the division were previously available on the <a href="https://faplayer.thefa.com/home/all" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FA Player</a>. These games not on the aforementioned networks initially hit the Football Association’s streaming service from the 2019/20 season onwards.</p>



<p>These matchups are now transitioning to a new home. Every non-televised <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-super-league-tv-schedule/">Women’s Super League</a> game this season will be found on the league’s official <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BarclaysWSL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube channel</a>. The move not only affects those in the United Kingdom but all over the world. These fixtures streaming on YouTube can be accessed by soccer fans from across the globe.</p>



<p>Along with official full-length matches, the WSL YouTube channel will also include additional game highlights and postgame interviews. The FA Player, however, is set to continue to be the home of the Women’s FA Cup competition.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Welcome to the Barclays WSL&apos;s Official YouTube Channel! ⚽️🏆" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jyc5IaZZAiY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<h2>YouTube has half of the Women’s Super League, Sky and BBC fight for the rest</h2>



<p>The 66 WSL games on Sky Sports/the BBC in the United Kingdom do not split evenly. Sky Sports currently holds the rights to 44 of these fixtures. Subscribers of the network, as well as the company’s streaming service, Now TV, can access the matches. The BBC, on the other hand, has the rights to the remaining 22 WSL matches for the 2024/25 season.</p>



<p>“It is also a landmark moment for us with our transition to YouTube as our streaming service,” <a href="https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/wsl-womens-championship-youtube-streaming-service-fa-player/#:~:text=All%2066%20games%20not%20broadcast,on%20the%20league&apos;s%20YouTube%20channel.&amp;text=The%20Women&apos;s%20Super%20League%20(WSL,video%20sharing%20platform%20next%20season." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> WSL and Women’s Championship chief executive Nikki Doucet. “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.”</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/07/16035345/WSL-Chelsea-trophy-1200x675-1200x675.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-517996" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div></figure>



<h2>2024/25 WSL season starts with a mouthwatering matchup</h2>



<p>The upcoming WSL campaign starts during the weekend of September 21. Highlighting these opening 2024/25 round of fixtures includes a matchup between Manchester City and Arsenal. The two teams finished the most recent campaign second and third in the table, respectively. They are two of the ‘Big Three’ in the division alongside Chelsea.</p>



<p>In addition to normally being a big game, the City-Arsenal matchup features Vivianne Miedema’s return to her old club. The star striker recently joined City from the Gunners as a free agent. Miedema is currently the league’s record goalscorer thanks to her time at Arsenal. She managed to net 125 goals and provide 50 assists in 172 total appearances for the north London side.</p>



<p>Reigning WSL champion Chelsea begins the campaign with a new manager. Former manager Emma Hayes recently joined the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/uswnt-tv-schedule/">USWNT</a> after collecting her seventh English title with the Blues. Sonia Bompastor will lead the team against Aston Villa on September 22 in her first league match at the helm.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>


Women's Super League inks YouTube deal as streaming home

Women's Super League (WSL) officials have announced that 66 total matches throughout the 2024/25 season will be streamed on YouTube.

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YouTube deal helps WSL more than triple viewership figures

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Women's Super League inks YouTube deal as streaming home

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