Nicola McKelvey’s Post

🙌 More people are watching women's sports 👏 The latest research from the Women's Sport Trust shares insight into the growth of women's sports fandom, with broadcast analysis from Futures Sport & Entertainment

Interesting info here from the Women's Sport Trust on the demand for women's sport, particularly around digital platforms, including: 🎵 Barcelona women’s football team has seen a near fourfold increase in TikTok views by focusing on culturally relevant content (music, entertainment, fashion) e.g. Spotify playlists from players. 👀 Athletes are driving more TikTok views than their WSL clubs, e.g. Mary Earps achieved 142m views over the season, compared to 52.5m for Man Utd Women. 🏀 The WNBA has delivered significant digital growth across a range of platforms, including achieving 60m views on TikTok in May 2024 (driven by a high-volume content strategy and the effect of star player Caitlin Clark). Recommendations for clubs included building both the club and players' profile through video content strategy, tapping into areas of cultural relevance and activating the creator community of your sport. #womenssport

📺 Interesting figures come from the Women's Sport Trust and Futures Sport & Entertainment. 📈 The consumption of women's sport in the UK is growing and the Barclays Women's Super League is setting its own record here. - Between January and May 2024, a record 22.6 million viewers watched more than 3 minutes of women's sport. Football, rugby union and cricket had the largest viewership.  - The 2023/24 BWSL season saw a record 40 minutes of viewing per game on average, an 11 per cent increase on the previous year.  - Chelsea, who had 18 out of 22 league games broadcast in the 2023/24 season, had the highest number of viewers of any BWSL team at 17.5 million, followed by Manchester City (15.8 million) and Arsenal (15.4 million). Check out the article below to get a wider perspective 👇

Sky Sports Extends Its Partnership With The Barclays Women’s Super League To Remain The Leading Women’s Sport Broadcaster: Women’s Super League on Sky Sports sits alongside an unrivaled offering of domestic football every season including 128 of best matches from the Premier League, over 1000 EFL fixtures including every match from the League Cup, and the biggest games from the SPFL and SWPL. Sky Sports Managing Director, Jonathan Licht, says, “Audiences have increased hugely over recent years and we’re proud of our contribution to the growth of the game and women’s sport more broadly, showing 70% of all live action last year on our channels.” More people than ever before are watching and engaging with women’s football. Since Sky Sports first partnered with the Women’s Super League in 2021, viewing on pay TV has now increased four-fold. Each season on Sky Sports, fans have watched in record-breaking numbers, with the Manchester derby on 23 March 2024 achieving a peak audience of nearly 600k and an average audience of 485k. Sky Sports has an unrivaled range of women’s sport and, in 2023, was the home to over 70% of all televised women’s sport - more hours than all other broadcasters put together. This year, Sky Sports will broadcast Scottish Women’s Premier League, England Women’s cricket, The Hundred, US Open, WTA Tour, women’s golf Majors, Ladies European Tour, England Netball, Women’s Premier League cricket, women’s boxing, F1 Academy and more. Sky is the undisputed home for sports fans in the UK, with more top-quality sport than anywhere else. Record audiences tuned in to Sky Sports in 2023 and with key rights secured until the end of the decade, sports fans can access more of the sports they love than ever before. On Sky Sports, and available to non-Sky subscribers via a NOW Sports Membership, the Women’s Super League sits alongside:  * Premier League – 128 live games, increasing by over 70% from 2025/26 to at least 215 fixtures each season. * Formula 1 – every practice, qualifying and race until the end of 2029.  * English Football League – coverage increasing to over 1,000 matches each season from 2024/25 in a ground-breaking five-year partnership.  * England cricket - ECB rights to the end of 2028 with home men’s and women’s international cricket including the next home Ashes series, The Hundred, Vitality Blast, County Championship. * International cricket – all men’s and women’s ICC world events through to the end of 2031, and the IPL and WPL tournaments secured until 2027. * Scottish football – an increase in Scottish Professional Football League fixtures and some of the best Scottish Women’s Premier League matches each season. * Golf - all five women’s Majors, and all four men’s Majors, The Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup and both men’s and women’s Tours across multi-year terms.  * Tennis – year-round tennis from both the ATP and WTA Tours for the next five years, plus the US…

Everything you need to know in #SportsBiz today: 1. Female Olympians feature in fewer Paris 2024 news articles but achieve more social engagement than male athletes, according to Redtorch study 2. EA Sports Madden NFL altcast to stream on Peacock for Houston Texans-Kansas City Chiefs matchup next month 3. Formula E makes return to free-to-air TV in UK with ITV deal 4. WBBL sees 46% YoY increase in TV and streaming audiences as attendances also climb 5. Two thirds of UK fans think more work should be done to improve sustainability in soccer, according to Carbon Responsible survey 6. FIFPRO unveils new president and secretary general 7. TTB Sport and GIST Impact partner to develop Social Value Calculator to quantify financial and non-financial contributions of sports to society 8. Amazon Prime Video and Netflix ready to rival Sky Sports for PDC World Darts Championship rights, according to The Telegraph 9. Labour peer proposes amendment to Football Governance Bill that would prevent state ownership of English clubs 10. IRFU posts €18.4m loss for 2023/24 11. Avenue Sports Fund becomes latest investor in Unrivaled Basketball ahead of league’s debut season 12. Outgoing Everton owner Farhard Moshiri makes pledge over £451m debt if Friedkin takeover drags on, reports The Guardian 13. Novak Djokovic signs on as Qatar Airways global brand ambassador Keep your finger on the pulse with all the major stories and news announcements by checking out The Wire - our one-stop shop and super-feed of sports business news 👉 https://lnkd.in/dPrASgtA

An incredibly exciting day at the start of September saw the Netball Super League (NSL) take centre stage as all eight Clubs revealed their 2025 squads via live player and coach interviews on Sky Sports News. These eight interviews, with seven NSL athletes and five NSL Head Coaches, featured live on Sky Sports News, reaching over 147,000 sports fans. This outstanding live coverage from Sky Sports News was accompanied by interviews with NSL stars on BBC Sports News and BBC Radio 5 Live as well as a host of regional media coverage, giving players, coaches and Clubs the opportunity to share their exciting news with wider sporting fans and driving significant digital and social engagement. Achieving over a remarkable 4.8 million social impressions on League-wide social channels, along with a League-wide reach of over 2 million, the announcements generated exceptional engagement and resulted in a 136% increase in NSL website page views when compared to average page views in the week prior. This is a clear demonstration of the passion, dedication and commitment of NSL fans as well as the potential for continued audience growth as the League embarks on a new era in 2025. Managing Director of the NSL Claire Nelson reflected on the day, saying: “Announcing all of our NSL squads live on Sky Sports was not only an incredibly exciting way to break the news of some momentous player signings but also marked the sign of things to come for the new look League. Throughout the day we saw netball fans and sports fans alike waiting and watching to find out who will be taking to court in the 2025 Season and for what Club, creating huge talking points and exceptional social engagement.  "As the Netball Super League relaunches in 2025, we will be taking it to new heights on and off the court, and the buzz created around our squad announcements signifies an incredible start to this exciting new era.” You can catch up on all the announcements and watch clips from the Sky Sports News interviews on the NSL website here: https://lnkd.in/eTGA-dKZ #NetballSuperLeague #Sport #WomensSport #SigningNews #BreakingNews #SkySports 

Everything you need to know in #SportsBiz today: 1. BBC and ITV secure UK free-to-air rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups 2. WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) announces regular season game between Atlanta Dream WNBA and Seattle Storm in Vancouver 3 UEFA launches Women’s Europa Cup second-tier club competition 4. Unrivaled Basketball secures US$28m in oversubscribed Series A investment round led by the Berman family 5. Bundesliga International GmbH and OneFootball roll out OTT service in Vietnam and South Africa 6. Major League Baseball (MLB) commissioner Rob Manfred says expansion teams would need to fit within specific time zones for scheduling efficiency 7. Riot Games allows esports teams for League of Legends and Valorant to sign betting sponsorships 8. Udinese Calcio’s Bluenergy Stadium to host 2025 Super Cup 9. AFC extends media partnership with Sportdigital as official broadcaster in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland until 2028 10. Spanish broadcaster Radiotelevisión Española retains Champions League final rights in €7.5m deal until 2027 11. Women’s Euro 2025 prize money set at €41m, with players receiving a share for the first time 12. Stormzy joins Padel Social Club as investor to support launch of new O2 venue 13. FC Urban and Equip Sport selected by Mastercard and adidas for accelerator projects around 2025 Champions League final 14. Luton Town Football Club’s planning application for a new 25,000-capacity stadium receives approval Keep your finger on the pulse with all the major stories and news announcements by checking out The Wire - our one-stop-shop and super-feed of sports business news 👉 https://lnkd.in/eQbVtW7u

UEFA to Allocate €1 Billion for Women's Football Development ⚽️ UEFA has announced a historic €1 billion investment in women's football under the "Time for Action" and "Unstoppable" programs, aiming to make it the most popular team sport for women across Europe by 2030. This commitment underscores the rapid growth and commercial potential of the sector. 🚀 The numbers speak for themselves: ▪️ In 2021-2025, UEFA will earn €70+ million from sponsorship contracts for women's football ▪️ UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 drew 575,000 fans, with 87,192 spectators at the final and 50 million TV viewers ▪️ The 2023 Women’s Champions League Final set an all-time attendance record of 91,553 With major sponsors like Visa, Amazon, Adidas, EA Sports, and PlayStation onboard, this sector is evolving beyond just a promising market — it's becoming a financial powerhouse. For investors, this marks a pivotal moment: a fast-growing sports economy, increasing fan engagement, and rising sponsorship revenue create fertile ground for strategic capital deployment. The question isn’t if women’s football will become a billion-dollar industry — but how soon. Our team has tremendous experience in this market, if you don't want to miss an opportunity, are interested in fundraising or entering the market, write directly to us right now! #VentureCapital #SportsInvestment #WomensFootball #UEFA #GrowthMarkets #SportsTech

Brandon Shangraw, Your insights on the current state of youth sports are incredibly timely and important. With the revenue from the largest four leagues surpassing $40 billion last year and youth sports registrations estimated between $5-10 billion, it’s clear that the future of our games will hinge on leagues investing in their own future. To get leagues more involved and interested in investing league revenues to lower the cost of youth sports and increase access, we might consider a few strategic approaches: 1. Partnership Initiatives Leagues could establish partnerships with youth sports organizations to create scholarship programs and fund grassroots initiatives. This not only supports the development of young athletes but also fosters a community-centric approach, ensuring the sustainability of the sport. 2. Community Engagement Programs Leagues could launch community engagement programs that focus on making sports accessible to underprivileged areas. By investing in local facilities and training programs, they can nurture talent from diverse backgrounds, promoting inclusivity and broadening their fan base. 3. Long-Term Development Funds Creating dedicated funds for the development of youth sports infrastructure can be a game-changer. These funds can be used for building and maintaining sports facilities, providing equipment, and supporting coaching programs. This approach ensures that resources are allocated specifically for the growth of youth sports. 4. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiatives Leagues can integrate youth sports support into their CSR initiatives. By aligning their brand with the development of future athletes, leagues not only enhance their public image but also contribute to a healthier, more active youth population. 5. Technology and Innovation Investments Investing in technology to lower the costs associated with youth sports can also be a viable strategy. Platforms that streamline registration, reduce administrative overhead, and provide access to virtual coaching can make youth sports more affordable and accessible. 6. Incentivize Participation Leagues could offer incentives such as reduced ticket prices or exclusive experiences for families involved in youth sports programs. This not only promotes youth sports but also strengthens the connection between professional leagues and their communities. 7. Advocacy and Policy Support Leagues can advocate for policies that support youth sports funding at the local, state, and national levels. By leveraging their influence, they can help shape a supportive environment for the growth of youth sports. Investing in the future of youth sports is not just a financial decision but a strategic one. It builds the foundation for the next generation of athletes, expands the sport’s reach, and ensures a vibrant and engaged fan base for years to come.

Everything you need to know in #SportsBiz today:   1. Deloitte report finds WSL clubs saw 50% increase in revenue for 2022/23 season 2. Netflix sets $5m ad price for NFL games, reports AdWeek 3. Cricket at LA28 Olympics could be staged in New York, according to the Independent 4. 'Get it right or there won’t be a third time' - Clark County commissioner warns Las Vegas GP 5. Manchester United minority owner Jim Ratcliffe says English football regulator would hurt Premier League 6. YouGov survey finds TV still most popular way for fans to consume Olympics ahead of Paris 2024 7. CEO Linda Yaccarino reveals X plans for more sports docuseries 8. Tiger Woods receives lifetime exemption for PGA Tour’s signature events 9. AFC Ajax extends shirt sponsorship with VodafoneZiggo until 2027 10. BBC invests £500k in Condense for immersive live events with dedicated team exploring sports opportunities 11. Learfield to develop own NIL technology after ending partnership with Opendorse 12. TikTok launches new photo-sharing Whee app Keep your finger on the pulse with all the major stories and news announcements by checking out The Wire - our one-stop shop and super-feed of sports business news 👉 https://lnkd.in/dJKSjMv5