The Australian pay-TV service, Optus Sport has obtained the rights to stream the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday, May 15. The broadcasting company will be exclusively streaming the final for the third season in a row, with Chelsea defending their title against Manchester City this year.
With Matildas captain Sam Kerr leading a fearsome Chelsea side and international teammates Alanna Kennedy and Hayley Raso representing Manchester City, fans can expect to witness a few of Australia’s best footballers compete for the trophy.
Optus Sport, which has been a frontrunner promoting and broadcasting women’s football with its coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Barclays FA Women’s Super League (WSL), has seen an explosion in the sport’s popularity.
There has also been a rapid expansion of viewership on Optus Sport for its WSL coverage season by season. The broadcasters have witnessed a 150% rise in viewership along with the growth of viewers who are actively watching both live as well as on replay content.
Clive Dickens, VP of TV, Content and Product Development at Optus, said, “We’re delighted to once again be the exclusive broadcaster of the Women’s FA Cup Final. 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. 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 the cards for the Reds in 2022/23, we’re expecting our viewership to continue its upward trajectory come the league’s kick-off next season.”
The Women’s FA Cup final announcement comes after Optus Sport inked an extension for exclusive media rights of the Premier League through 2028 and the Barclays FA Women’s Super League until 2024.
Furthermore, Optus Sport also secured the Australian rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, along with the forthcoming UEFA Women’s Euro, with every match being broadcast live and exclusively.