Telecommunications provider, Optus, has secured exclusive media rights to the upcoming Women’s FA Cup Final.
The deal marks Optus Sports’ third consecutive year streaming the game, with fans able to watch the 50th Women’s FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester City live and on-demand through Optus’ sports subscription platform.
Online coverage will include the match, kicking off at 6:30 am (AEST) on May 15th, and Optus’s 30-minute ‘Mini Match’ in extended highlight format.
The final will feature three Australian national team players, Sam Kerr playing for Chelsea, and Hayley Raso and Alanna Kennedy playing for Manchester City.
The re-securement of the final marks the company’s strengthening position on Australia’s football landscape, after having recently acquired the rights to every live match of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League through to 2024.
Optus also has the media rights to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the rights for the English Premier League until 2028, making it Australia’s market leader in football streaming.
A media statement released by the telecom provider highlighted how interest in women’s sport has exploded on its Optus Sports platform.
The platform has been broadcasting women’s football since 2019 via its coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Barclay’s FA Women’s Super League (WSL)
Optus’ vice president of TV, content and product innovation, Clive Dickens said Optus was delighted to once again be the final’s exclusive broadcaster.
“Interest in women’s football is sky-rocketing – this is evident in the record-breaking stadium attendance overseas and here in Australia, where we have seen a significant increase in viewers of our WSL coverage on Optus Sport,” Dickens said.
“With the guarantee of an Aussie lifting the trophy at this year’s Women’s FA Cup Final and a FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil on the horizon, there’s never been a more exciting time to bring the game to our viewers.”
“With fan-favourites Liverpool noticeably absent from this year’s WSL season, but with a return on cards for the red’s in 2022/23, we’re expecting our viewership to continue its upward trajectory come the league’s kick-off next season,” he concluded.
In 2020, Optus’ Head of TV and Content, Corin Dimopoulos, said Optus was excited to be the home to a game helping evolve women’s football.
“As the home of premium football in Australia, we know Optus Sport plays a key role in helping grow the women’s game both here in Australia and around the world,” Dimopoulos said.
