Football Federation Australia (FFA) has signed a two-year deal to make the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) the official Free-To-Air Broadcast Partner of the Westfield W-League and the Westfield Matildas.
For fans without subscription TV, this means access to one live W-League match per round during the 2019/20 season, every Sunday at 3pm. All matches of the W-League finals will also be available live.
The public broadcaster will also show the upcoming Matildas international friendlies against Chile, and the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Asian Qualifiers, scheduled for February and March of 2020.
Football is back on ABC!#WLeague pic.twitter.com/JPHiWShQIN
— Westfield W-League (@WLeague) October 3, 2019
This deal marks the W-League’s return to the ABC, after a brief move to SBS Viceland for the 2018/19 season. The ABC was the home of W-League from its inception in 2008 until 2017.
“We have always been a big supporter of women’s sport in this country and will use every means possible to build the biggest audience we can for the W-league,” Judith Whelan, the ABC’s Director of Regional and Local, told ABC News.
https://twitter.com/abcgrandstand/status/1179877381357625344
Paul Lederer, Chair of the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association, welcomed the ABC as the new home of Australian football.
“The ABC’s Television, radio, digital and social platforms will allow the Australian professional game to access and engage even more fans through more touch points,” Lederer told w-league.com.au.
“Our commitment as Clubs is to ensure that we deliver to all of our broadcast partners Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League seasons worthy of the opportunity that has been created.”
The Westfield W-League season begins this month with match dates yet to be released.
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