NEW YORK — The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has agreed a four-year media deal with broadcasters ESPN, CBS, Prime Sports and Scripps' ION Network, the league said on Thursday.
The NWSL described the deal, worth a reported $60 million annually, as the "largest media investment in women's sports history", promising "record-breaking distribution and revenue" for the top-flight American league.
New NWSL broadcast deal
Deal is DONE.
The game has changed.— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 9, 2023
The NWSL had a HUGE year:
• Record 1M fans
• Angel City FC worth $180M
• Avg. team has 37 sponsorsAnd now the league has signed a new set of media rights deals worth $240 million over 4 years.
That's $60M annually — or 40x more than the league's current $1.5 million deal. pic.twitter.com/gDUbUbqpJG
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) November 9, 2023
"These partners here believe in our future," NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman told reporters. "We are resetting the standards by which women's sports can be valued and we're so excited to continue to demonstrate the proof of concept."
The agreement begins in 2024 and 118 matches will be shared out across the four platforms, with CBS set to air the championship match annually in prime time.
"This agreement further strengthens our leadership position as the home for women’s sports," Rosalyn Durant, ESPN's executive vice president for programming and acquisitions, said.
CBS Sports extends multiplatform rights agreement with NWSL, remaining the home of the NWSL Championship and offering the most broadcast matches in league history.
— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) November 9, 2023
ESPN & the @NWSL reach a multiyear media rights agreement beginning with the 2024 season
⚽️ English, Spanish & Portuguese-language rights in the U.S. & Latin America
⚽️ 20 games per season, all available on @ESPNPlus in English & SpanishMore: https://t.co/9UEzL0FzQj | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/aPxe3N0Wqe
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) November 9, 2023
Viewership for the league has been steadily climbing and Thursday's announcement came after record ratings around the globe for this year's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The 2024 NWSL will include two expansion teams, Bay FC and the Utah Royals.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, editing by Ed Osmond)
