2020 NWSL media discussion

Finally, a really good move by the NWSL.
Get the right people to secure TV deals, that's the only way to grow the league.

 

I'm just saying the NWSL streaming could, should, and must be better. and not restricted for those outside the US. The FA Player proves it can be done.

I downloaded The FA Player to my tablet just before the FAWSL break. Today I used it to watch Chelsea vs. Reading, until Sam Kerr subbed out in the 77th minute and then I switched to Arsenal vs. Birmingham City, so I could watch Kim, Viv and DVD. It is FREE, easy to navigate and responsive right here in the old U S of A, a whole ocean and continent away. The NWSL streaming never opened up on time for me- I always had to wsit until 4-5 minutes into a game before the games would come up. And the fans outside the US were screwed last season so many could not get games free.

 

As an expat who spends the majority of every year overseas, I absolutely agree.

 

Yep, NWSL should have something similar to FA player. Probably generate revenue with few ads through the app. I'm not familiar with apps, but how costly is it for NWSL to stream through the app compare to normal tv channel?

 

How much are you willing to pay for an NWSL streaming package?

Let's face facts, if you want NWSL teams to be able to competitively challenge for players on the global market, as well as pay all the players on their rosters at least living wages, then they need to grow their revenue streams.

This means ticket prices. It also means an end to free streams.

How much are you willing to pay?

I had no problems paying $69/year for MLS's Direct Kick, but oddly, I have yet to shell out the cheaper $5/mo for ESPN+ which has the MLS games and a gazillion other sporting products.

Do you want a standalone NWSL product, or would having the NWSL streams handled by ESPN (or FOX/BeIn/etc...) work for you?

There might be a free streaming option this year, but its time is coming, necessarily, to an end.

 

Just letting people know that if you have FA player through your phone you can also see it on your pc as well using your same account. I’ve used it to watch the replay of Chelsea vs Arsenal and it’s fantastic because you can change the settings to 1080p and looks better on full screen on my tv instead of on the phone. FA player doesn’t have to be a mobile app. And I still support a free streaming just have ads included. You know not many people would pay to subscribe to women’s game. So ads would be the best. And still allow many people to watch the women.

 

And thus has always been the problem with women's sports. Getting fans of the women's game to support sponsors and spend actual hard earned cash is extremely hard. Yes, there are exceptions. The USWNT jersey sales are through the roof, but it's like an 80 story skyscraper in a two story town.

I've been in this business for 20 years. It's great to see Meg Linehan beating The Athletic's metrics and The Equalizer still being in business, but pretty much everyone in the women's game has an outside job that pays most of the bills.

The hot potato that has been NWSL broadcasts is because nobody is making money at it. Advertisers stop spending money when the metrics show that nobody watching is buying. The NWSL's league sponsors are USSF hand me downs, except for Budweiser, which is doing it to grab the moral high ground as opposed to doing it because they think they'll directly make money - you'll notice the silence with regards to new league sponsors in the 6 months since Budweiser threw down the gauntlet challenging other companies to join them.

If fans are unwilling to pay $5/mo for a streaming service, and I'm not saying you're wrong, then what is the real value of those fans?

NWSL is a business, and if they don't balance their books, it'll all eventually come crashing down. And we're entering an era of increasing wage pressure from Europe (and maybe soon Mexico) for players.[/QUOTE]

 

DirectKick no longer exists. ESPN has owned the option to stream MLS games for a number of years, and two years ago they finally pulled the trigger when they created ESPN+.

As far as facilities, that's where the NWSL, for the most part, shines. The only country outside of the U.S. with remotely comparable facilities for women's professional soccer is England, and it's still a generation behind. Think Sky Blue 2017 as the rule, not the exception. The rest of Europe, outside of a few select clubs, has basically the equivalent of rec league facilities. I will say that this is changing, but it doesn't happen overnight, and just like NWSL clubs have to generally match revenues with expenses, revenues for women's soccer around the globe are typically a small fraction of what NWSL teams get. Now their travel expenses are likely far, far, less, but the teams with good facilities are generally subsidized by established men's brands, much in the way that five of the NWSL teams are able to lean on the infrastructure of their co-owned MLS and USL clubs, and DC and Sky Blue now in relationships with MLS clubs, and Red Stars being the primary tenant in an MLS hand-me-down modern stadium, and the Reign now aligning themselves with a big European brand.

 

speaking of competition, I get Fútbol Mexicano femenil primera división on FuBo. And I can dvr them.
Friday is Juarés v Pachuca and Monday is Toluca v Cruz Azul.

so I might see more of their matches than NWSL if a deal doesn’t get done.

 

Looks like CBS might be getting broadcast rights for 2020:

Regarding #NWSL broadcast rights for 2020, I'm told CBS has a huge lead right now, may even be across the finish line. Should be all inclusive meaning national games and streaming distribution rights

— Dan Lauletta (@TheDanLauletta) January 31, 2020

 

There might also be a deal with another digital service (in addition to CBS All-Acess?) in the works. Of course, all of this is just rumors right now:

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Let’s hope they announce before the season begins.

 

No official announcement by NWSL yet, but this is confirmed. From SI Now: "More than a dozen NWSL games are expected to be shown on a CBS linear platform this year, including on CBS’s main over-the-air channel, with out-of-market NWSL games expected to be available on CBS All Access, a pay streaming site."

 

Time for the fans of women's soccer to put their money where their mouths are.

 

sheesh. not a good look.

cbs all access is, I think, universally hated. no?

...i guess it's just me.

 

Universally hated? Other than people just hating paywalls, I don't think it's all that bad. Of course, I already subscribe, so I'm not hating it.

 

I will gladly subscribe to CBS All Access for $5.99/month to see NWSL. Woso has similarly impelled me to subscribe to Equalizersoccer, TheAthletic, and several short stints (paid, not free trial) with Fubotv, Slingtv, and others. I must say that bouncing around all of NWSL streaming platforms for the last 7 years has been a pain in the butt.

 

Plus you get Star Trek Picard!

 

International viewers can watch on Twitch:

International viewers will be able to watch all 108 #NWSL regular season matches plus the playoffs on Twitch

— Dan Lauletta (@TheDanLauletta) March 11, 2020

 

CBS and Twitch deal is for 3 years:

#NWSL announces 3-year media rights agreement with CBS Sports and Twitch. Matches on CBS, CBS Sports, CBS All-Access, and Twitch

— Dan Lauletta (@TheDanLauletta) March 11, 2020

For specific game coverage, check the NWSL website: https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/art...s-on-cbs-cbs-sports-cbs-all-access-and-twitch

 

For any others like me who had never heard of Twitch: https://www.allforxi.com/2020/3/11/21175026/nwsl-twitch-explainer-how-to-watch-livestreaming