Inside WSL’s transformative broadcast rights negotiation

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan share what’s worth knowing in the global sports industry this week.

They’re joined by Rachel Knight, Co-Managing Director of Women’s Sports Group. She details the ins and outs of the media rights process WSG ran for the Women’s Super League, which resulted in October’s landmark deal which will see the BBC and Sky Sports paying a reported £65 million for the next five seasons of live coverage.

She reflects on the marketplace dynamics that impacted the lengthy negotiations, the clips carve-out for teams and players, what she would have done differently and the challenge of comparison, with the men’s game and the NWSL, as the deals were being stitched together.

There’s also time to chat about Sixth Street’s new women’s football multi-club ownership group; Juventus tapping into The King’s League; and FC Barcelona breaking the 20 million subscriber mark on YouTube.

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