Fixtures spread out to boost TV reach but 3pm blackout stays

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 30, 2026

Sky Sports begins its second year of broadcasting the Women’s Super League with a nearly doubled rights fee of £13 million per season, televising 163 of 182 matches while the BBC covers the remainder. The WSL is adjusting its schedule by reintroducing limited Sunday evening kickoffs and expanding Friday evening games to improve viewership and attendance, while the BBC ends its long-running Women’s Football Show in favor of digital highlights.

The Women’s Super League (WSL) is entering its second year under Sky Sports’ five-year broadcast agreement, which includes a rights fee of approximately £13 million per season—nearly double the previous contract. Under this deal, Sky Sports will televise 163 of the 182 fixtures for the upcoming season, with the BBC covering the rest.

This campaign will see the return of the late Sunday kick-off slot, a scheduling feature previously discontinued following fan complaints and lower attendances. The slot, known for drawing strong viewership when paired with Sky’s "Super Sunday" football coverage, is set to reappear, although it will be used sparingly in the initial fixtures. Notably, Aston Villa versus Manchester City is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Sunday, September 13.

Broadcasters and league organizers aim to provide a wider distribution of match times across the weekend, addressing criticism from last season when multiple games were concentrated around midday on Sundays. The congested scheduling had made it challenging for supporters to watch multiple matches consistently. The WSL plans to feature regular Friday evening fixtures, opening its season with London City Lionesses facing Manchester United at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Balancing in-person attendance with television audiences remains a challenge, especially given the diverse demographic of women’s football fans, which includes many families. Although recommendations from Karen Carney’s review of the women’s game proposed removing the traditional 3 p.m. blackout on women’s matches to create a prime viewing slot, the WSL has opted not to pursue this change at present.

In a notable development regarding coverage, the BBC has decided to discontinue its Women’s Football Show, a weekly highlight program that had been running since 2013 in a similar format to "Match of the Day." The show, often broadcast late on Sunday nights, struggled with low viewership. Instead, the BBC plans to offer highlight packages through digital platforms such as iPlayer and YouTube, experimenting with new formats to reach audiences.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.