Latest news with #womenssport
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lionesses and Red Roses join forces to call for more women's sport on TV
Almost half of Brits wish there were more women's sport coverage on TV, according to new research. This is despite viewership and fandom of women's sports skyrocketing in recent years, thanks to sporting success for England's national teams and increased coverage on TV. Advertisement This uptick sees many fans frequently tuning in, with over a quarter (27%) actively seeking out women's sport weekly. While one in five (20%) of 18–34-year-olds do so every day, according to recent research by LG. This rings particularly true in the capital, with Londoners the most committed as two in five (40%) seek out female sports content weekly. The younger generations are the most loyal fans and want to see even more from their favourite sportswomen, with almost three quarters (72%) of 25–34-year-olds sharing they wish women's sport was more widely covered on TV. For those over 45, their kids are taking an educational role in women's sport engagement. Nearly a quarter (22%) claim that their children introduced them to women's sport for the first time. Advertisement To discuss the upcoming summer of sport, former England goalkeeper and media pundit, Rachel Brown-Finnis, sat down with two of England's most loved sporting teams, the Lionesses and Red Roses. Lioness captain Leah Williamson and teammates, Anna Moorhouse and Jess Carter, were joined by Red Roses, Ellie Kildunne, Sadia Kabeya and Lucy Packer, to reflect on some of the nation's most memorable sporting TV moments and the importance of visibility. Sharing her thoughts on the value of visibility, Leah Williamson said: 'I think it's so important that the boys see us, and they see it as normal that we're on the telly and that we're doing the same thing that they want to do.' While goalkeeper, Anna Moorhouse, added: 'It's just great to have everything more accessible. When I was growing up, you couldn't really watch it on TV, women's sport, it was once in a blue moon, now it's every weekend.' Advertisement Presented by Brown-Finnis, in partnership with LG, the group reflected on the development and support that has shaped women's football and rugby into the globally watched sports they are today. Red Roses full-back Ellie Kildunne commented: 'As a Red Roses team, we're playing and they're inspired by us. It's really cool and its definitely just the start, I think there's so much more we can do to grow.' Fan support from across the country will be inspiring the Red Roses and the Lionesses this summer and Brown-Finnis agrees, saying: 'We will be cheering on the Red Roses this summer, we'll be cheering on the Lionesses – good luck for an amazing summer of sport.' Rachel Brown-Finnis is relishing a summer of women's sport (imagecomms) James Thomas, senior product manager for Media Solutions at LG Electronics UK, added: 'It was great to catch up with members of the Lionesses and Red Roses at St George's Park recently, as part of our ongoing partnership with The FA and the RFU. LG's All In Pledge encourages people to engage and watch women's sport, whilst helping the nation get closer to the action with LG OLED TVs. Advertisement 'Watching women's sports helps grow the game and inspires new players to pick up the sport themselves, as watching changes everything.' Red Roses player Sadia Kabeya knows how important watching women's sports is for future players and said: 'The uptake over the past couple of years has been amazing. I never watched rugby growing up and some of these girls are coming because they've seen it on TV…and that being the reason people are taking up the sport is really cool.' Jess Carter said: 'It's incredible now that you can watch so much women's sport on TV. Luckily, I've been able to get on it and hopefully other people have been enjoying watching myself and my team play' Members of the two England women's teams caught up with LG at St George's Park recently as part of the leading TV manufacturer's ongoing partnership with The FA and the RFU. The LG All In Pledge encourages people to engage and watch women's sport. Together we can grow support through fandom and audience numbers to inspire new players to pick up the sport themselves, as watching changes everything. For more information, go to
RNZ News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Super Netball goes global in deal with Whoopi Goldberg's AWSN
Sunshine Coast Lightning celebrate with coach Noeline Taurua after winning the 2018 final Photo: DCimages | Daniel Carson Australia's Super Netball league will be broadcast to more than 65 countries over the next three years after Netball Australia struck a deal with Whoopi Goldberg's All Women's Sports Network (AWSN). Netball, one of a few sports created exclusively for women and girls, is the most popular participation sport for females in Australia with Netball Australia estimating there are up to a million players across the country. \Grace Nweke of the Swifts warms up ahead of the round two Super Netball match between NSW Swifts and Melbourne Mavericks at Ken Rosewall Arena on 12 April 12, 2025 in Sydney. Photo: Jason McCawley / Getty Images The professional Super Netball league, which was launched in 2017, has eight teams and 41 of its games, including the playoffs and finals, will now be broadcast on AWSN. "This breakthrough deal puts netball on screens across the globe and cements our place at the forefront of women's sport," Netball Australia chief executive Stacey West said in a statement. "AWSN shares our vision of taking women's sport to new heights. Together, we're creating a platform for our athletes and game to shine like never before." Co-founded by Oscar-winning actor and comedian Goldberg, AWSN was launched late last year as the first global media channel dedicated exclusively to showcasing women's sports. "I am so proud to be thanking you for joining us on AWSN," Goldberg said in a video message to Super Netball released by Netball Australia. "I see that your fans are really loving you, so we want to make sure that we put you everywhere in the world so that everybody knows about you." - Reuters
The Guardian
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Sister act: Whoopi Goldberg gives Super Netball a boost with global broadcast deal
Hollywood icon Whoopi Goldberg is taking Australian netball to the world with her new global sport television network dedicated exclusively to women's sport. Netball Australia and the All Women's Sport Network (AWSN) announced on Monday a multi-year broadcast deal to show Super Netball matches to more than 65 new countries. Goldberg said she was 'so proud' to see the Super Netball competition join AWSN. 'I think y'all are terrific,' she said in an Instagram video. 'I just watched you play and I see that your fans are really loving you, so we want to make sure that we put you everywhere in the world so that everybody knows about you.' Goldberg and AWSN co-founder George Chung launched the network at the end of 2024, with Goldberg saying her motivation for the project was sparked by seeing women's sport not receive the same coverage as their male counterparts. 'I knew that if I couldn't find these sports and watch the amazing female athletes playing them, others weren't finding them either,' she told Forbes at the time. 'I really hope shining a light on women's sports will help elevate female athletes around the world.' This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Netball Australia's chief executive, Stacey West, acknowledged the opportunities the new partnership would bring the league and netball more broadly. 'This breakthrough deal puts netball on screens across the globe and cements our place at the forefront of women's sport,' West said. 'AWSN shares our vision of taking women's sport to new heights. Together, we're creating a platform for our athletes and game to shine like never before.' The response to the announcement was swift and positive, with former Diamond and AFLW player Sharni Layton commenting on Goldberg's video saying: 'This is next level. Netball is going [up].' Netball Australia chair and former Diamond Liz Ellis shared the video, adding that Super Netball was 'going places'. The partnership is inked through to 2027 and will result in 41 Super Netball matches being broadcast to the network's 900m-strong global audience. Other leagues featured on the network includes Australia's WNBL, as well as the WTA, Uefa Women's Nations League, Sweden's Damallsvenskan, European cricket, roller derby and softball. The WNBL joined the AWSN in November 2024, with then league boss, Christy Collier-Hill, saying: 'Reaching fans globally and showcasing our incredible athletes, clubs, and competition is a major milestone for the league.' It's a much needed win for Super Netball and Netball Australia, which have faced extensive off-court dramas in recent years, and will help to solidify the revival the sport is undergoing in Australia. The partnership also points to the continued growth of women's sport, and the business opportunities it offers.
Globe and Mail
19-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Report shows that 60% of Canadians see improved perception of women's sport
New data on the explosive growth of women's sport in Canada underscores its rising popularity, but also reveals that its structural supports still lag behind. Jessica Doherty, vice-president of strategy and growth at Torque Strategies, presented findings from a new national survey on Wednesday morning at the espnW Summit Canada at Toronto's Evergreen Brick Works. One of the study's main findings is that 60 per cent of Canadians believe perceptions of women's sport have improved over the past three years. 'It has been on quite a rocket ship and one of the things that feeds into that is just the growing visibility in it,' said Doherty, noting that three professional women's sports properties have been launched in Canada in the past three years. 'I think when people see it more, then they're like, 'Oh, yeah, this is a thing.' It becomes normalized, and therefore, other people think, 'Oh, it's OK for me to be a fan of women's sport.'' Commissioned by Torque Strategies, in partnership with IMI, the report surveyed 2,000 people across a wide demographic spectrum that was representative of Canada's population. It found that 80 per cent of male respondents consider themselves fans of women's sport. According to the report, 41 per cent of Canadians see women's sports as a national investment. The surge in popularity across all genders was, in large part, thanks to the founding of the Professional Women's Hockey League, soccer's Northern Super League, and the announcement that the Women's National Basketball Association will expand into Toronto for the 2026 season. However, the report also found that over 30 per cent of fans believe that investment is lacking across media, sponsorship and policy. 'The next step is to sustain that growth, right?' said Doherty. 'You see leagues historically in the U.S. and there's been some stop and start leagues, so we want to find ways to keep the growth, keep the momentum and help sustain them. 'I think forums like this and research like this ... helps back up this excitement with real data that supports a business case.' Since the PWHL was founded in 2023, there has been a 45 per cent increase in female hockey registrations in Canada, a historic record for the sport. Monica Wright Rogers, the new general manager of the WNBA's Toronto Tempo, was also a panellist at the espnW Conference. She said that she hopes the new women's basketball franchise will capture the imagination of young Canadian girls like the PWHL and NSL have. 'We want to inspire a generation to pick up a basketball and be a professional,' said Wright Rogers, who played collegiately and in the WNBA before moving into coaching and was the Phoenix Mercury's assistant GM before signing on in Toronto. 'If you're having fun at the sport, and you're young, and then you see women, professionally, living their lives, having fun and are good, that does something to a young person. 'I wouldn't be here if I didn't have the WNBA to aspire to, or the NWSL, or professional women putting their all on their playing field.' Hosted by ESPN's Sarah Spain, the third annual espnW Summit Canada had a dozen presentations. Some of the panels included Torque Strategies and IMI's presentation on the growth of women's sport, Wright Rogers' panel on women leading professional sports organizations, a discussion of how to build better facilities for women's sports, and an introduction of some of the founders getting support from Toronto Metropolitan University's Future of Sport Lab. 'This year, you'll see it's a lot more about grassroots and infrastructure and investment, really trying to expand the conversation and broaden that,' said Doherty during the lunch break. 'That's what we hope to continue with, year on year, when it comes to the research. 'Our agency is very, very passionate about women's sport, as is IMI, so we are going to continue to follow up on the report, new releases, new ideas, new insights that will come out on a biannual basis.'
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report: 60% of Canadians say perception of women's sport has improved over 3 years
TORONTO — New data on the explosive growth of women's sport in Canada underscores its rising popularity, but also reveals that its structural supports still lag behind. Jessica Doherty, vice-president of strategy and growth at Torque Strategies, presented findings from a new national survey on Wednesday morning at the espnW Summit Canada at Toronto's Evergreen Brick Works. One of the study's main findings is that 60 per cent of Canadians believe perceptions of women's sport have improved over the past three years. "It has been on quite a rocket ship and one of the things that feeds into that is just the growing visibility in it," said Doherty, noting that three professional women's sports properties have been launched in Canada in the past three years. "I think when people see it more, then they're like, 'oh, yeah, this is a thing.' It becomes normalized, and therefore, other people think, 'Oh, it's OK for me to be a fan of women's sport.'" Commissioned by Torque Strategies, in partnership with IMI, the report surveyed 2,000 people across a wide demographic spectrum that was representative of Canada's population. It found that 80 per cent of male respondents consider themselves fans of women's sport. According to the report, 41 per cent of Canadians see women's sports as a national investment. The surge in popularity across all genders was, in large part, thanks to the founding of the Professional Women's Hockey League, soccer's Northern Super League, and the announcement that the Women's National Basketball Association will expand into Toronto for the 2026 season. However, the report also found that over 30 per cent of fans believe that investment is lacking across media, sponsorship and policy. "The next step is to sustain that growth, right?" said Doherty. "You see leagues historically in the U.S. and there's been some stop and start leagues, so we want to find ways to keep the growth, keep the momentum and help sustain them. "I think forums like this and research like this ... helps back up this excitement with real data that supports a business case." Since the PWHL was founded in 2023, there has been a 45 per cent increase in female hockey registrations in Canada, a historic record for the sport. Monica Wright Rogers, the new general manager of the WNBA's Toronto Tempo, was also a panellist at the espnW Conference. She said that she hopes the new women's basketball franchise will capture the imagination of young Canadian girls like the PWHL and NSL have. "We want to inspire a generation to pick up a basketball and be a professional," said Wright Rogers, who played collegiately and in the WNBA before moving into coaching and was the Phoenix Mercury's assistant GM before signing on in Toronto. "If you're having fun at the sport, and you're young, and then you see women, professionally, living their lives, having fun and are good, that does something to a young person. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't have the WNBA to aspire to, or the NWSL, or professional women putting their all on their playing field." Hosted by ESPN's Sarah Spain, the third annual espnW Summit Canada had a dozen presentations. Some of the panels included Torque Strategies and IMI's presentation on the growth of women's sport, Wright Rogers' panel on women leading professional sports organizations, a discussion of how to build better facilities for women's sports, and an introduction of some of the founders getting support from Toronto Metropolitan University's Future of Sport Lab. "This year, you'll see it's a lot more about grassroots and infrastructure and investment, really trying to expand the conversation and broaden that," said Doherty during the lunch break. "That's what we hope to continue with, year on year, when it comes to the research. "Our agency is very, very passionate about women's sport, as is IMI, so we are going to continue to follow up on the report, new releases, new ideas, new insights that will come out on a biannual basis." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2025. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
