ESPN+ has sealed a multi-year deal to broadcast the A-League and W-League in the United States, Football Federation Australia revealed today.
The agreement will see the Walt DIsney-owned channel carry up to 140 A-League matches from October through to May and at least 17 W-League matches which will be streamed from October through to February.
“FFA is delighted to have reached agreement for the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League to be available live and exclusive to American fans on ESPN+ for the next three seasons” said FFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Luke Bould.
“There is no greater name in the entertainment world than The Walt Disney Company and to be one first football leagues featured on their world leading new ESPN+ platform is a great coup.
“The US is an important market for us, particularly in women’s football. With so many Matildas playing there in the W-League off-season, there is a significant following which will only grow through this agreement.”
Greg O’Rourke, FFA’s Head of Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League, added: “This broadcast agreement will help expand the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League brands in one of the largest sports entertainment markets in the world.”
“This agreement further boosts the position of ESPN+ as the leading new platform for live soccer matches in the U.S.,” said Burke Magnus, Executive Vice President, Programming and Scheduling, ESPN. “These leagues join a lineup of hundreds of top-division live matches from Europe and North America, along with a strong lineup of original and studio soccer programming.”
Reactions:
Everyone's talking about the fans, but what the huge exposure OUR ATHLETES are going to get to American coaches and teams? More coverage = more doors opened for them to play in one of the best leagues in the world. 👏🏽👏🏽
— Josh Mitise (@JoshMitise) August 10, 2018
C'mon ...17 W-League Games 🆚 140 A-League games ... where's the Hugeness in that ? W-League no further forward ...let's see what coverage they get in OZ, now they intend a Women's World Cup bid @EqualizerSoccer
— Col meechan (@cocochel1) August 10, 2018
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