Women's Super League broadcast slots under threat after dismal derby attendance.
The Women's Super League (WSL) is bracing itself for another disappointing TV season following a dismal viewing figure of 71,000 for the highly-anticipated Arsenal v Chelsea match. The match, which was broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, saw an average audience of just 55,900 - a far cry from last season's impressive 337,000 on Sky and 682,000 on BBC.
According to sources close to the league, the noon Saturday kick-off time proved to be the biggest factor behind the low attendance figures. As most WSL games this season will kick off at lunchtime, this scheduling decision has raised concerns about the league's ability to attract a wider audience. The league's flagship slot, previously held on Sundays, has been moved to noons and afternoons, which often clashes with junior and grassroots football matches.
The trend is worrying for the WSL, as it comes off the back of England's Lionesses' historic European Championship win last summer. Despite a significant rise in crowds and viewing figures following that triumph, early evidence suggests this momentum has not been replicated. The league's average attendance over the first six match rounds stands at 6,500, with a decline reported by Women's Sports Trust.
The WSL is also facing challenges from the BBC, which has the rights to 21 live matches this season. However, scheduling clashes have presented difficulties for both Sky and the BBC, with several fixtures broadcast on different platforms, often resulting in low viewership figures.
As the league prepares for another crucial season, it must address its broadcasting strategy if it hopes to capitalize on England's growing interest in women's football. With the WSL poised to face stiff competition from other sports, including the Premier League and EFL, the league must act quickly to revamp its scheduling and broadcasting strategy to avoid a repeat of last season's low TV audience figures.
The Women's Super League (WSL) is bracing itself for another disappointing TV season following a dismal viewing figure of 71,000 for the highly-anticipated Arsenal v Chelsea match. The match, which was broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, saw an average audience of just 55,900 - a far cry from last season's impressive 337,000 on Sky and 682,000 on BBC.
According to sources close to the league, the noon Saturday kick-off time proved to be the biggest factor behind the low attendance figures. As most WSL games this season will kick off at lunchtime, this scheduling decision has raised concerns about the league's ability to attract a wider audience. The league's flagship slot, previously held on Sundays, has been moved to noons and afternoons, which often clashes with junior and grassroots football matches.
The trend is worrying for the WSL, as it comes off the back of England's Lionesses' historic European Championship win last summer. Despite a significant rise in crowds and viewing figures following that triumph, early evidence suggests this momentum has not been replicated. The league's average attendance over the first six match rounds stands at 6,500, with a decline reported by Women's Sports Trust.
The WSL is also facing challenges from the BBC, which has the rights to 21 live matches this season. However, scheduling clashes have presented difficulties for both Sky and the BBC, with several fixtures broadcast on different platforms, often resulting in low viewership figures.
As the league prepares for another crucial season, it must address its broadcasting strategy if it hopes to capitalize on England's growing interest in women's football. With the WSL poised to face stiff competition from other sports, including the Premier League and EFL, the league must act quickly to revamp its scheduling and broadcasting strategy to avoid a repeat of last season's low TV audience figures.
. The whole thing just feels so disjointed. I mean, the WSL is still growing in popularity, but it needs a more cohesive approach if it wants to reach a wider audience. Noon kick-offs are never going to be great for TV ratings, and moving Sunday slots to noons is just going to clash with other sports and kids' activities. We need some innovative solutions here 
. Maybe they could try broadcasting matches earlier in the day or on different channels? The BBC's got 21 live matches, so why not let them take the afternoon slots? I get that Sky's a major player, but can't they work together to create more compelling viewing experiences? 
Let's hope they take this as an opportunity to revamp and make the WSL shine in the long run 
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women's football getting robbed of its chance to shine on tv 
or even friday nights, something to give it a real feel to the league. and btw who says wsl fans don't watch the matches in pubs and whatnot? 
like what happened to womens football? it was on fire after that euro win and now it's just meh 
i get that the new schedule might be causing some issues, but can't they adjust the kick-off times or something? it's not like the league is trying hard enough, you know? 
another thing, why do we need to broadcast matches on different platforms? can't it just be one place to watch? and btw 71k people tuning in for that arsenal vs chelsea match? that's still decent, but yeah, the numbers are not there anymore 
I'm so disappointed to hear that the Women's Super League is struggling with TV viewership again. I mean, we've just come off an incredible achievement with England's Lionesses winning the European Championship, and you'd think that would bring more attention to the league. 
But it seems like things are actually getting worse.
It just doesn't feel like a good fit for most people's schedules. And it clashes with junior and grassroots matches, which is a shame because those are the ones that need to be supported.
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. remember those early days when the games were all on TV but you'd watch it with just a handful of people? yeah, that's basically what's happening again now. scheduling is such a big part of this... if they could figure out a way to not clash with junior and grassroots matches, i think they'd see some decent viewership numbers. like, 10k+ would be a start 
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The WSL has got this! 
It's like trying to squeeze a Sunday Funday vibe into a weekday.
. It's understandable that the league wants to maximize its viewership, but scheduling it against junior and grassroots football matches makes perfect sense 
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i mean who watches wsl matches at noon on saturdays? 
the league needs to revamp their strategy ASAP or risk being overshadowed by other sports 
, it's so sad to hear that Women's Super League broadcast slots are under threat after those super disappointing derby attendance 
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... who thought that was a good idea? 
. Can't we just have some decent Sunday afternoon slots like normal? 
... but they gotta be more careful with scheduling too 
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. We gotta support the WSL and get more people watching 
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and also, have they considered streaming more games online so people can watch when it's most convenient for them? that way, the league could potentially reach a wider audience 
Perhaps the WSL could benefit from a more dynamic broadcasting strategy, incorporating innovative formats and partnerships with influential sports brands to revitalize interest in women's football. 
Sky and BBC have to work together better if they wanna attract more viewers. The league needs some serious revampin' strategies ASAP!