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The success of the Matildas at the recent World Cup in Canada is having a fast and positive impact on the sport in Australia, with Fox Sports announcing the formulation of a new broadcast deal with the W-League.
The premier women’s league appeared to be heading towards a 2015/16 season without any television presence, after being axed from the ABC’s broadcast umbrella following a number of unpopular budget cuts.
However, a deal with Fox Sports breathes new life into the league that would have struggled for sponsorship funding without sufficient television exposure.
The new deal will currently only see one game broadcast per round – the match played on Sunday afternoon as a curtain-raiser to the day’s A-League clash. This will allow Fox Sports to leverage the broadcasting facilities that are already in place for the A-League game, reducing the cost to the network of taking on the venture.
The ABC are also reportedly interested in a simulcast deal with Fox Sports, similar to the kind that sees Friday night A-League fixtures broadcast on SBS.
Speaking on the impending deal on Monday, Fox CEO Patrick Delaney stated, “It’s a fantastic outcome for women’s football in Australia and will be the perfect complement to our live Sunday afternoon A-League coverage.
“Football fans will now be able to watch the best male and female footballers in the country every week.”
The exposure of Australians to women’s football during the World Cup was profoundly positive, which has offered the A-League a unique opportunity to sell an all-inclusive experience for fans with double-headers each Sunday.
The W-League will also welcome its ninth team for the 2015/16 season with the addition of a Melbourne City side.
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