sport news Women's Super League pay price for delaying TV rights auction as clubs question ... trends now
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The new Women's Super League TV contract announced today represents a major victory for rights holders Sky Sports and the BBC, leaving many clubs questioning the WSL Board's negotiating strategy, as a far bigger deal was discussed last year.
Sky and BBC have both succeeded in gaining more live games in the one-year extension for the same fees they have been paying over the last three years, around £7million and £750,000 respectively.
To compound the disappointment felt at some clubs Mail Sport has learned that the WSL held talks over a more generous three-year package from Sky and the BBC last year.
While a formal offer was not made it is understood that the negotiations centred on a potential deal which would have seen the clubs receive combined fees from Sky and the BBC of £9m in the first two years of the deal, before an increase to £10m in the final year to reflect the anticipated growth in viewing figures.
The BBC and Sky Sports have agreed a one-year extension to their WSL broadcast deal
Broadcasters will show more live games for the same fees they paid over the last three years
During the initial talks some outlandish figures as high as £30m-a-year were being talked about by some on the WSL Board buoyed by England's 2022 European Championship win, although the Lionesses' success has not translated into greater competition amongst broadcasters.
TNT Sport
