WSL Football and Aurora Media Worldwide are marking the successful completion of the first season of their multi-year host broadcast partnership across the Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s Super League 2 (WSL2).
The partnership has brought together the live production and distribution of all WSL and WSL2 matches under one unified broadcast framework, delivering expanded coverage, enhanced digital content and storytelling and increased accessibility for fans in the UK and internationally.
Across the season, the partnership has delivered:
● More than 300 live matches across the WSL, WSL2 and Women’s League Cup
● Over 500 digital highlights packages
● 22 BBC weekly highlights programmes, ‘The Women’s Football Show’
● More than 200 original films and social-first features
● Brand partner activations through player-led storytelling and digital content campaigns across broadcast and social platforms
● Live-stream coverage of all WSL matches outside Sky Sports and BBC selections
● Live-stream coverage on YouTube of every WSL2 fixture
● Fully Produced World feeds for all WSL matches for X international broadcast partners
Aurora also introduced new technical and editorial workflows for WSL Football, including cloud-based remote production infrastructure and expanded digital storytelling designed to bring fans closer to the players, clubs and rivalries across both leagues.
Operating from production hubs in London, Woking and Leeds, Aurora and WSL Football established an innovative North-South production model designed to support regional production capability, local workforce growth and emerging broadcast talent.
Brand new OB units, MCR, remote galleries, studio and edit facilities were created in partnership with Vivid Broadcast in Woking and Sticks & Glass in Leeds to facilitate the volume of output.
The first season of the partnership came during a period of continued growth for the women’s domestic game, with rising attendances, increased broadcast audiences and expanding commercial interest across the WSL and WSL2.
The women’s professional game has seen transformational growth including the biggest ever cumulative attendance of 111k across one weekend in March, 71% increase in social followers and 161% for video views over the past two years, live games available in 182 countries and 75% reach in international markets plus a 30% year on year viewership increase on Sky Sports.
As part of the partnership, Aurora worked alongside Vivid Broadcast and Sticks & Glass to establish sustainable production hubs in the South and North of England. Alongside live production delivery, the project supported emerging production talent and player media development initiatives both on and off camera.
By creating a unified production and distribution operation across both leagues, Aurora and WSL Football aimed to increase visibility, expand access for fans and support the continued growth of the women’s game both in the UK and internationally.
Lawrence Duffy, chief executive officer at Aurora Media Worldwide, said: “This has been a huge project to undertake, The investment and support from WSL Football has underpinned their commitment to a fast-growing domestic & international media offering. This season we have seen game after game of brilliant action, goals and personal stories across both leagues. This has been a hugely collaborative effort between Aurora, WSL Football, Sky, BBC Sport and production partners across the country. We’re extremely proud of what has been delivered together, both on screen and behind the scenes. There is plenty more to come”
Zarah Al-Kudcy, chief revenue officer, WSL Football, said: “This season has marked an important step forward in the continued growth of both leagues. Working together with Aurora, we have been able to innovate and expand access for fans, increase the visibility of both leagues and create a more consistent and accessible viewing experience across broadcast and digital platforms. The scale and quality of coverage delivered this season reflects both the growing interest in women’s football and the ambition for where the game can go next.”
