The NWSL is "hopeful that moving games from an afternoon time slot on Lifetime this season to an evening time slot on ESPNews will boost attendance and promote player health and safety," according to Jamie Goldberg of the Portland OREGONIAN. A+E Networks "holds an equity stake in the NWSL" and has "broadcast an afternoon NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime every Saturday" since the beginning of the '17 season. A+E Networks Exec VP/Digital Media and NWSL Media Board Member Evan Silverman said, "One of the things that the teams and the league expressed was a desire to have more games in prime time windows at night because it's a positive for ticket sales and it's a positive because there are lower temperatures." Silverman said that it "made sense" to approach ESPN about "possible broadcasting options" as Disney also has a stake in A+E Networks. NWSL Managing Dir of Operations Amanda Duffy said that the change in start times will "enable the league to put a better product on the field and ensure that players are competing in a safe and healthy environment." Duffy said that the league is "anticipating higher attendance numbers for the six upcoming games scheduled to air" on ESPNews. She added that the change also will "allow the NWSL to build its relationship with the ESPN family and take advantage of possible cross-promotion opportunities." Meanwhile, Lifetime will "broadcast one NSWL Game of the Week on a Friday night for the first time ever this season." Silverman: "It gives us another opportunity to test how the game performs in a different window." Goldberg notes while the change in network and kickoff times "might lead to high in-stadium attendances, the impact it will have on viewership is less clear" (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/7).
Changing the start times of games will help the NWSL's on-field product and ensure the safety of playersNWSL
