National Women’s Soccer League Signs Historic Women’s Sports Deal; Amazon, CBS, ESPN, More Add to Soccer Content
The deal will send NWSL games to various cable/broadcast channels, as well as streaming platforms.
The National Women’s Soccer League is coming to a TV near you. The league has announced a sweeping new media rights deal that will see its games available on a host of different channels and platforms, including some that already have a massive presence in the soccer streaming world.
- The NWSL has agreed to a $240 million rights deal with Amazon, CBS, ESPN and Scripps.
- The deal will see matches stream on Prime Video, Paramount+ and ESPN+, as well as be broadcast on linear channels.
- Paramount+ and ESPN+ already offer a great selection of live soccer matches.
Who Will Get What in New NWSL Media Deal?
The new broadcasting deal between the NWSL and its various partners is the largest such deal in the history of women’s sports. The league has four partners: Amazon, CBS, ESPN, and Scripps, which will air more than 50 matches each year on Ion in the form of 25 Saturday night doubleheaders. The deal takes hold starting with the 2024 NWSL season, which begins in March.
Amazon will get 27 NWSL matches each season, including 25 regular season games in a “Game of the Week” format on Friday nights. Prime Video will also be responsible for the opening kick-off match, and will host one quarterfinal playoff game.
CBS will offer up to 12 games per season on its broadcast network and Paramount+, and another 10 matches per season will appear on CBS Sports Network. “Attacking Third,” the show dedicated to women’s soccer on CBS’s free streaming channel Golazo Network will offer extensive NWSL coverage.
ESPN gets 20 matches per season — 17 regular season contests and three playoff games. Linear coverage of NWSL matches will be provided by ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, while ESPN+ will offer simultaneous live coverage of each match in both English and Spanish.
What Soccer is Already Available to Stream on ESPN+, Paramount+?
Paramount+ offers extensive live soccer coverage. In addition to upcoming NWSL matches, Paramount+ offers UEFA Champions League, CONCACAF, Argentine Primera Division, Italy’s Serie A, Campeonato Brasileirão Série A and Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) soccer.
The streamer also carries a feed of CBS Sports’ Golazo Network, which offers live matches, highlights, news, analysis, and much more. Paramount+ is an excellent destination for streaming top soccer leagues from around the world, and with prices starting at just $5.99 per month, it’s also a great value.
ESPN+ also holds an impressive lineup of top soccer leagues, including the Bundesliga, LaLiga, Copa Del Rey, the Carabao Cup, the European Football League, the Women’s FA Cup, Emirates FA Cup, and more. This service will run you $10.99 per month, but you’ll also get access to the NHL’s out-of-market games, college sports, streams of select “Monday Night Football” games, and much more with an ESPN+ subscription.