DAZN To Move Majority Of Women’s UCL Coverage Behind Paywall After Hitting 64million Views Last Season
Written by Olaleye Oluwadamilola
Ahead of the new season, fans will have to pay for more than two thirds of women’s Champions League matches after last year’s competition racked up 64MILLION views with just 19 games remaining free to air on DAZN’s YouTube channel.
More Details
DAZN will now move the majority of next season’s games behind a paywall as a result of this new development but fans will have to pay for 42 matches next season while 19 games, including the final, one semi-final and two of the quarter-finals, will remain free to air on DAZN’s YouTube channel.
The broadcaster signed a four-year deal to show the women’s European competition in 2020 and is in its second season of coverage.
As culled from Dailymail UK, The figures from the 2021-2022 campaign, which saw a group stage introduced to mirror the men’s competition, showed there were 64million views from 230 different countries, with 4.1million live views attributed to the final between Barcelona and Lyon.
The report also DAZN had always planned to move to a pay model in their third year of coverage and Veronica Diquattro, DAZN’s CEO for Global markets, insists that women’s football is becoming a compelling and viable sporting and commercial proposition. outlined that 8.5million hours were watched on the YouTube channel throughout the season.
“The UWCL, as well as our other women’s football properties, are high quality, have audience and command value. We and UEFA feel the time is right for the competition to start finding its true commercial value. Visibility must lead to viability.”
The highest viewing figures were recorded in Spain followed by the USA, France, Germany Indonesia, the UK and Italy.
Meanwhile…
For nine years, Manchester City ruled women’s football in these parts. When they joined the WSL in 2014 there was no opposition, Manchester United did not exist.
Even when United made the decision to re-form in 2018, they were forced to start in the Championship but City had a four-year head start and were miles ahead, on and off the pitch. So how, in the space of five years, have they let themselves be overtaken?
Manchester City have been overtaken by their United rivals following the recent loss to after taking their foot off the gas in recent years in the WSL which has seen London club Chelsea win back to back to back in 2017/18, 2019/20, 2020/21 and are on course for a fourth consecutive years.
Read Also – FIFA Women’s World Cup Streaks
City have not lifted a title since winning their first in 2016 although the club had four seasons of finishing second, five if you include the 2017 Spring Series, before dropping to third place.
Interestingly, all five of City’s defeats this season have come away from home – Chelsea, Arsenal, United, Aston Villa and Liverpool.
For big chances converted they are 11th but their xG (expected goals) is the highest in the division. That is simply not good enough for a team with their quality.
Before Sunday’s game Chloe Kelly had created 74 chances in the WSL – the most of any player. Second in that list? Her team-mate Lauren Hemp with 51. There have been countless games where City have dropped points because they have not been ruthless enough in front of goal. And their recent slump could mean nothing but danger.
Kindly Email: keepup@bettitude.com
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube
