Full Breakdown
CBS Sports Secures U.S. Broadcast Rights to England’s Barclays Women’s Super League (2026-30)
5/29/2026, 5:05:57 AM
CBS Sports Wins Four-Year U.S. Rights Deal for the Barclays Women’s Super League
CBS Sports announced a four-year agreement to broadcast the English-language U.S. rights to the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) beginning in September 2026 and extending through the 2029-30 season. The contract covers all 183 matches each season, including the regular-season schedule and a promotion-relegation playoff.
Background: Recent U.S. Broadcast Landscape for the WSL
The WSL’s U.S. rights were held by ESPN for the two seasons preceding the new deal. CBS previously aired the league during the 2023-24 campaign, after which ESPN took over. The 2026-27 season will be the first with an expanded 14-team field, prompting renewed interest from broadcasters.
Key Stakeholders
- CBS Sports – Rights holder, distributing content across Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, and the free, ad-supported CBS Sports Golazo Network.
- Paramount+ – Primary streaming platform for live matches.
- CBS Sports Network – Broadcasts one live match per week.
- CBS Sports Golazo Network – Provides select live fixtures and ancillary programming.
- WSL Football – League’s commercial arm, represented by IMG in negotiations.
- Zarah Al-Kudcy – Chief Revenue Officer, WSL Football.
- Jen Beattie – Former Arsenal player, on-air talent for CBS.
Timeline of Rights Ownership
- 2023-24 – CBS Sports holds U.S. rights.
- 2024-25 & 2025-26 – ESPN broadcasts the league in the United States.
- September 2026 – CBS Sports begins its new rights period.
- 2029-30 – Final season of the current agreement.
Scope of Coverage and Platform Allocation
Paramount+ will stream every one of the 183 matches per season, marking the most comprehensive live coverage of the league to date. CBS Sports Network will air a single match each week, while select fixtures will also appear on the CBS Sports Golazo Network. The Golazo Network will supplement live action with the dedicated women’s-soccer show *Attacking Third* and studio programs *Morning Footy*, *Golazo Matchday*, and *Scoreline*.
Data Summary
- Matches per season: 183 (regular season + one playoff).
- Teams: 14, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City (defending champions), and Manchester United.
- Platforms: Paramount+ (live streaming), CBS Sports Network (weekly broadcast), CBS Sports Golazo Network (select matches and studio content).
- Portfolio context: The deal adds to CBS’s existing women’s-soccer rights, which already include the NWSL, UEFA Women’s Champions League, CONCACAF women’s tournaments, Serie A Femminile, and select UEFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Official Statements & Responses
WSL Football’s chief revenue officer, Zarah Al-Kudcy, highlighted the partnership’s strategic fit, noting CBS’s extensive women’s-soccer rights portfolio and its on-air talent, including former Arsenal defender Jen Beattie, as assets for league storytelling.
Why the Deal Matters
The agreement expands U.S. access to the premier English women’s league, potentially increasing viewership and commercial revenue for the sport. By consolidating live matches on a single streaming service and providing weekly televised highlights, CBS aims to deepen audience engagement and support the league’s growth amid its expanded format.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. The Guardian reported that the valuation could be up to four times higher than previous U.S. deals, but no exact figure was provided, leaving the precise monetary impact uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
> “We are excited to welcome CBS Sports back to the Barclays WSL. Their breadth of women’s football rights demonstrates their commitment to the game as does their delivery of content alongside live matches. And with the likes of former Arsenal player Jen Beattie already on their talent roster, we know our league’s storytelling is in good hands.” — Zarah Al-Kudcy, Chief Revenue Officer, WSL Football
What’s Next
CBS will launch its coverage with the 2026-27 season, featuring live streaming of all matches on Paramount+ and weekly broadcasts on CBS Sports Network. The network plans to roll out additional studio programming and digital content throughout the rights period, while the league prepares for its first season with a 14-team lineup.
