The Women’s World Cup (July 20-August 20) will be visible on free television channels in 34 European countries, including the five largest football countries for which no broadcaster has yet been appointed, FIFA announced on Wednesday. The Zurich body, which was negotiating the award of TV rights for the tournament held in Australia and New Zealand with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), has extended the agreement reached last fall with 28 countries to “France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Ukraine”, she specified. No financial details have been released by Fifa.
Belgium, Austria or even Croatia
In the countries mentioned also appear Belgium, Austria, Croatia, Ireland, Romania, the Czech Republic and Turkey, but not Portugal, Greece, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. “As part of this partnership, the EBU is committed to guaranteeing the broadcast of at least one hour of content dedicated to women’s football per week on its digital platform and its broadcast network”, adds the boss of Fifa. Gianni Infantino, quoted in a press release.
For several months, the Italian-Swiss leader had been waging a standoff with the main European broadcasters, whose financial proposals he considered “unacceptable” for the Women’s World Cup, because “20 to 100 times lower than those received for the World Cup” masculine. He recalled that the broadcasters paid “between 100 and 200 million dollars” for the Men’s World Cup but were only ready to offer “1 to 10 million dollars for the Women’s World Cup”, while its audiences represent “about 50 to 60%” of the men’s tournament.
“Reasonable” hours
Sweeping the question of the time difference put forward by European television, he estimated that the matches would certainly “not be broadcast in prime time in Europe” but would take place “at 9 or 10 a.m., which remains very reasonable”.
In early May, Gianni Infantino even threatened to “not broadcast” the tournament in the five major European countries – including France, which organized the 2019 World Cup -, while agreements had already been reached with American, Canadian or Brazilians.