AN agreement to air this year’s Women’s World Cup on television in the UK is thought to have been reached, according to reports.
This comes just over six months after the launch of Fifa’s tender process for the sale of tournament media rights to UK broadcasters.
Earlier this week The Independent reported a deal was still outstanding with sources informing the paper that offers from UK channels were “lowballing Fifa”.
Talks were also said to still be ongoing.
Today the Daily Mail reports a “major breakthrough” has been reached in regard to the contest being aired on national television.
It is claimed an agreement is expected to be confirmed and publicised in the near future.
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And it also thought the deal could potentially see coverage shared by BBC, who along with Sky Sports broadcast Women’s Super League games, and ITV.
This year’s World Cup will take place a year after the Euros hosted in England with the Lionesses and their rivals pulling in record stadium crowds and television viewers.
Last July’s Euros final, broadcast on BBC One and won by Sarina Wiegman’s players at Wembley, was watched by a peak TV audience of 17.4 million viewers.
The viewing figures made it the most watched women’s football match in the history of UK television and the most-viewed TV event of last year.
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And in December the FA revealed 23.3million people watched the final on TV or online.
It is hoped England’s success at last year’s Euros will lead to high numbers of viewers of the World Cup in July and August with the Lionesses and the Republic of Ireland among the 32 sides competing.
Due to the time difference between the UK and the World Cup’s hosts Australia and New Zealand, England’s matches will be taking place when many viewers will be asleep or out at work.
However, with tournament timing coinciding with the school holidays, coverage of matches could see younger audiences engaged with rising interest in the game amongst girls as well as women.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
