BT, FA Team Up To Support Women's Game, Acquires WSL, National Team, FA Cup Rights

The FA has reached an agreement with British telecom company BT "to become one of the founding partners of a new commercial programme for women's football" from '14-18, according to SOCCEREX. BT "has acquired rights for the FA Women’s Super League, the England women’s senior team and the FA Women’s Cup." In addition, BT Sport "will exclusively broadcast WSL live matches across the season." Following the launch of the WSL in '11, the rise of the England women’s team to seventh in the FIFA World Rankings and the success of the London 2012 Olympics, women’s football "is the largest growth area of the English game and is now the third biggest team sport in the country" (SOCCEREX, 5/10).