The UEFA Women's Champions League has signed a first ever four-year deal with online sports broadcasting company DAZN, in combination with YouTube, which will stream all matches for free.
This new deal will give fans increased exposure to women's football as the UEFA Women's Champions League introduces a 16-team group stage for the first time.
For the first two seasons (2021/22 and 2022/23), fans will be able to watch live and on demand all 61 matches from the group stage onward on DAZN, and free on DAZN's YouTube channel.
For the following two seasons (2023/24 and 2024/25), all 61 matches will be shown live on DAZN, while 19 matches will be free to view on DAZN's YouTube channel.
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 agreement is one of the largest broadcast deals in women's club football history and 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.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is pleased with the progress that women's football has made in recent years.
"Two years ago, when we launched UEFA's first ever women's football strategy, 'Time for Action', we promised action that will lead to a greater, more professional and more prosperous game by 2024," Ceferin said. "Several initiatives have since followed and this summer is a giant leap in that direction.
"We are delighted to announce the start of a four-year global partnership with DAZN and YouTube. For the first two seasons, fans around the world can access and watch for free all matches, enabling fans to follow the competition and the very best players in the world.
"There is no better way to inspire future generations of young girls and boys to play football. Women's football is here to stay and will only grow stronger."
Nadine Kessler, UEFA chief of women's football, added that this first for women's football is only the beginning, and that more visibility of the women's game will bring even more change for the good.
"This deal is a first for women's football as this partnership between UEFA and DAZN and YouTube will make sure that the UEFA Women's Champions League can be seen by the fans, by all the people who love this game, wherever they are on the globe," Kessler said.
"Such visibility changes everything, as the best female players and best women's teams in the world can inspire more young girls and boys to fall in love with this sport.
"Together, we are all bringing women’s football to the world and everyone who will tune in will truly make a difference to something bigger."
James Rushton, Co-CEO, DAZN Group, is looking forward to embarking on this new venture with women's football, and is excited about what it means for women's football globally.
“We are thrilled to be the new global broadcaster for UEFA Women’s Champions League and cannot wait to work with YouTube and Google to bring fans closer to the game and shine a brighter light on its stars than ever before," Rushton said.
"DAZN was founded with a vision of making premium sports more accessible, and what’s more accessible than centralising rights for the first time while making all matches free on YouTube? Overnight, this will make the best women’s football easier to watch around the world than ever before.
"Along the way, we look forward to elevating live broadcast production, extending existing DAZN content franchises, and unveiling new shows that showcase the breadth and brilliance of women’s football.”
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