NWSL Announce Historic Partnership with A+E Networks
The NWSL will hit the big screen as the growing league announced its official partnership with A+E Networks on Thursday morning. In conjunction with the deal, Lifetime will serve as an official sponsor and broadcast partner. The NWSL Game of the Week will premiere on Lifetime throughout the country every Saturday with a pre-game show proceeding each match.
NWSL Soccer News: The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has announced a historic partnership with A+E Networks to become the league’s newest investor with an equity stake in the NWSL, joining the existing team ownership groups.
As one of the leading women’s media brands, Lifetime will become an official sponsor and broadcast partner of the NWSL in a three-year deal, beginning in April. The investment is accompanied by the development of a new joint venture, NWSL Media, and marks a watershed moment in the league’s future that will bolster its growth and support of teams, players and fans.
“This is a transformational partnership in the evolution of the league, and we are so appreciative of Nancy Dubuc and her team at A+E Networks as they take a leadership position in the growth of our league and create opportunities for young women,” NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush said. “We are also extremely pleased to be able to present our fans with the most comprehensive national television and streaming packages in our history.”
“As a former college athlete, I know the importance of sports in the lives of women and girls and I couldn’t be more thrilled to join forces with NWSL and U.S. Soccer to ensure professional women athletes are elevated as the entire country can watch and be inspired by their strength and athleticism. The teams are filled with some of the best professional players in the world, and we are proud to welcome them to Lifetime,” said Nancy Dubuc, President and CEO, A+E Networks.
“This partnership is not only tremendously significant in the continued growth of the NWSL, but representative of how far the league has come in four years and where it can go in the future,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “A+E and its resources are a fantastic fit for women’s professional soccer and will have a major impact on continuing to raise the profile of what we feel is already the best and most competitive league in the world.”
NWSL Media will serve as the media and commercial channel of the league, overseeing all of its global broadcast and sponsorship rights. In addition, NWSL Media will manage all digital assets including a re-designed website, a new NWSL app on iOS and Android, and its social media platforms.
NWSL Media will oversee the live streaming of all matches with a consistent, state-of-the-art approach that will include exclusive pre-game, halftime and post-game content. The joint venture with A+E Networks is currently negotiating with potential partners to stream the games rather than broadcast on Lifetime.
Lifetime, the premier entertainment destination for women, is making an unprecedented commitment with a three-year deal to be the official broadcast partner. For the first time in NWSL history, matches will be broadcast on television every weekend of the season.
The NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime will provide fans throughout the country with a live viewing platform every Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. A pre-game show will kick off each weekly match at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Photo Credit: National Women’s Soccer League
