The BBC and ITV are close to finalising a deal to share broadcasting rights in the UK for this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The UK broadcasters are understood to be in the final stages of a deal that would see rights to this year’s tournament split across the two free-to-air channels. A deal is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
All Women’s World Cup games have to be on free-to-air television in the UK as part of the Ofcom Code.
Talks had stalled last year after FIFA rejected offers from broadcasters in the UK and other countries.
In October, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that the bids for the tournament’s broadcast rights were “unacceptable”.
Infantino claimed that broadcasters had offered “100 times less” for rights to the Women’s World Cup compared to the men’s edition.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup is taking place in Australia and New Zealand and most games will be kicking off in the early hours in the UK, albeit England’s group games are scheduled for late morning.
This is the first cycle in which broadcasters have bid separately for rights to the Women’s World Cup. Previously, the Women’s World Cup was included as an add-on in the broadcasters’ package when they bought the men’s World Cup rights.
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