NWSL Announces Massive Multi-Platform Media Deal With CBS, ESPN, Amazon
For years now, women's soccer has grown in popularity in America and across the globe.
Now, the United States's flagship soccer league has an expanded television contract to show for it.
The NWSL has agreed to a four-year media deal with CBS, ESPN, Amazon and Scripps Sports beginning in the 2024 season, the league announced Thursday afternoon. In announcing the contract, the NWSL touted it as the "largest media investment in women's sports history."
Under the deal, various NWSL games will be available nationally in English on Amazon Prime, ION (a Scripps property), CBS, Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+.
Deal is DONE.
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 9, 2023
The game has changed. ????
In addition to nationally televised games, all league games "will be part of a domestic direct-to-consumer package produced and distributed by the NWSL," per the league.
“These partnerships fundamentally change the game for our league and the players who take the pitch each week. On behalf of the NWSL, our owners and players, I want to commend CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video and Scripps for investing in our league and affirmatively declaring to the marketplace that this league is exciting, valuable, and important,” NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said in Thursday's release.
The NWSL is set to expand to 14 teams in '24 with the addition of Bay FC in San Jose and the Utah Royals in suburban Salt Lake City.