The W-League "will retain a free-to-air television audience for the upcoming season, with the ABC re-committing to broadcast the league," according to the AAP.
The national broadcaster and Fox Sports "will both broadcast one Sunday afternoon match live." The matches "will take place at A-League venues and form regular Sunday double-headers which Football Federation Australia hopes will help lift the profile of the league." FFA has "provided a significant investment towards the broadcast deal."
The ABC "withdrew coverage of the league due to cuts to the national broadcaster, but utilisation of Fox Sports’ equipment has cut their costs and helped put the league back on their airwaves" (AAP, 9/15). The first broadcast match will see defending W-League champions Canberra United take on Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Oct. 18. Kickoff for all matches is 2pm.
The new broadcast arrangement gives Australia’s female players the broadest TV exposure in the eight-year history of the W-League.
FFA CEO David Gallop: "The growth of the Westfield W-League is a crucial component in our long term strategy around women’s football and we will move into the 2015/16 season with coverage on FOX SPORTS as well as free to air TV" (FFA).
