Playing for 90
Fansided

NWSL Rumors: League Close to Finalizing Multi-Year TV Deal

By Phil Naegely

facebooktwitterreddit

While the NWSL season kicks off in April, the talk about the league has been about players like Abby Wambach, who won’t play during the 2015 NWSL season. This is due to the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Wambach decided against playing in the NWSL this year, but other soccer federations have decided to hold their respective players back for pre-World Cup training camps. On Monday, Seattle Times reporter Matt Pentz spoke to NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush who said “a TV deal should be finalized in the next few weeks.

Last year, some NWSL games were featured on ESPN including playoff matches. A multi-year TV deal with a television provider would be great for the NWSL as it enters its third season. Its previous profession women’s soccer leagues both folded after their third season. Many believe the NWSL is better off, but others are still wondering if it can go past a third season. A TV deal would help give the league financial stability.

Likewise, it would be wise of a television company to agree to rights with the league as it’s a World Cup year. Fans are excited about the USWNT and could get some carry over into the NWSL matches by broadcasting them. This was true with MLS after the 2014 World Cup. Fans seem to get more interested about soccer and various leagues whenever it’s a World Cup year.

Personally, it would be great to be able to watch NWSL on television instead of having to watch team provided streams. The production quality will be better, it will go from no or not so good announcers to experts of the game. This though assumes that networks like ESPN, Fox Sports or NBC Sports are bidding or in negotiations for the rights. Given that Fox Sports has rights through the 2022 World Cup, select USMNT matches, and USWNT, it wouldn’t be a surprise for Fox Sports to go after NWSL rights.

They are always trying to show how they are different than ESPN since dissolving Fox Soccer and launching Fox Sports 1 and 2. So far, ESPN still has the upper hand in soccer and non-soccer coverage, but they are showing fans they care about soccer coverage. Adding NWSL to their list of leagues they have rights to, would show they care equally about women’s soccer as they do about men’s soccer.

For now, it hasn’t been revealed or rumored which networks are apart of this negotiation, but given soccer’s growth within the US and the fact many USWNT players are apart of the NWSL, do not be surprised if networks like ESPN, Fox Sports and even NBC Sports bid for the rights. Yet, the league could have been approached by one network and exclusively negotiated with them. Stay tuned as the “deal is finalized in the next few weeks” as NWSL commissioner told Seattle Times report Matt Pentz on Monday.

Next: Jozy Altidore Speaks with 120 Sports

More from Playing for 90

[subscribed]

Home/NWSL