YouTube has entered a new four-year global broadcasting partnership with sports streaming service DAZN to stream every game from the UEFA Women’s Champions League competition.
“All the Sixty-one games, according to UEFA.com, “from the group stage onward will be broadcast by DAZN and YouTube in a four-year deal.”
“The new deal will greatly increase exposure to women’s football as the UEFA Women’s Champions League introduces a 16-team group stage for the first time.”
The multi-year deal grants DAZN exclusive rights worldwide, with the exception of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – where rights include clips and highlights – and China and its territories.
The partnership is one of the largest broadcast deals in the history of Women Club Football and shows that UEFA and its partners are committed to Women sport. This is centred on the mission of growing the UEFA Women’s Champions League, turning more players and teams into household names and inspiring the next generation of players – all of which starts with more people around the world watching the game.
The broadcasting deal will commence amid a new format for the competition. The football body will introduce a 16-game group stage this season, exactly the way it is for the Men’s Champions League. Previously, it was a two-legged knockout competition with a one-off final. The group stage for the 2021-22 edition starts on October 5th.
This is an opportunity for soccer fans in most parts of the world to watch some of the best female players in action without having to pay money to subscribe to a TV channel. However, they need to have a decent Internet connection and a device to be able to watch the matches on YouTube.
“The deal should give the UWCL more exposure than in the past, and it could perhaps inspire more kids to take up the sport,” said Aleksander Čeferin, the President of UEFA.
The partnership follows UEFA’s decision to create a new format for the UEFA Women’s Champions League, with the new group stage accompanied by centralised media and sponsorship rights, which will lead to a significant increase of revenues. This has built the foundation for the recently announced pioneering financial distribution model through which €24m will be spread throughout women’s football across Europe, strengthening the future for the sport.
