Fox and NBC lodge bids for FIFA Women’s World Cup rights; who else could host?
Fox and NBC lodge bids for FIFA Women’s World Cup rights; who else could host?
ESPN is declining to throw its hat in the ring for the Women’s World Cup, but CBS could still jump into the fray.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is one of the most popular global sporting events on the pantheon, and the TV rights to the tournament are expected to be quite lucrative going forward. FIFA has decided to separate the bidding process for the men’s and women’s World Cups going forward, and the next women’s tournament is coming to audiences from Brazil in 2027. John Ourand of Puck News is reporting the first details on the bidding process for the Women’s World Cup, including which outlets have made offers for the rights, and which are sitting this cycle out.
Key Details:
- Fox and NBC have submitted formal bids for the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups.
- ESPN is out on the bidding, while CBS’s status is unknown.
- Fox has been the traditional partner of FIFA World Cups, but NBC has a streaming service in its arsenal.
According to Ourand, FIFA was surprised that the Women’s World Cup didn’t receive more attention from prospective bidders. Fox and NBC have been confirmed as bidders, but Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery sat the process out. Amazon’s lack of participation is particularly surprising, considering it’s a key broadcast partner of the National Women’s Soccer League, which plays several matches each year on Prime Video.
ESPN is also not bidding on the FIFA Women’s World Cup, despite a recent emphasis on women’s sports from the company, highlighted by its participation in a $2.2 billion deal with Amazon, CBS and other outlets for WNBA rights.
Ourand reports that it’s unclear if CBS has bid on the rights or not, though it’s certainly possible. The company has had considerable success with broadcasts of UEFA Champions League soccer and matches from other global leagues, both on broadcast and cable channels and the Paramount+ streaming service.
Fox has been the traditional broadcast partner of FIFA Men’s and Women’s World Cups for years, but NBC represents an interesting challenger. The company has had plenty of success in streaming live sports, as its big ratings for its streaming-exclusive NFL wild-card game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins on Peacock in January demonstrated clearly. NBC also has plenty of experience with soccer, given its position as the U.S. partner for the English Premier League.
Having the Peacock streaming service on its side could be key for NBC; Fox still does not have a mainstream on-demand service, and its streamer Fox Nation is more suited for conservative news and lifestyle programming than it is for live sports. That could give it an edge, though Ourand reports FIFA might also consider opening a second round of bidding to see if it can drum up more support.
Peacock
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