Broadcast hours up for women’s sports under taxpayer-funded Fox Sports deal

WOMEN’S sports coverage on subscription television has jumped 39 per cent in the past year, a report into the federal government’s $30 million grant for Fox Sports has found.

WOMEN’S sports coverage on subscription television has jumped 39 per cent over the past year, a report into the federal government’s $30 million grant for Fox Sports has found.

The first report on the funding, to be released today, found more than 4800 hours of women’s, niche and emerging sports hit the screens in the past 12 months, including about 1600 live hours.

It comes as Fox Sports, owned by News Corp Australia, announced it would further enhance its coverage of sports over the coming 12 months including all W-League soccer games, the inaugural Hockey Pro league, the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 cricket and the FIBA Women’s World Cup basketball.

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The level of coverage exceeded the broadcast hours forecast in the terms of the funding by 24 per cent and is an almost 40 per cent increase on the previous year.

The Coalition government announced in its 2017 Budget it would provide $30 million from 2017-18 to 2020-21 to support television and online coverage of sports that received low or no broadcast exposure, including women’s sports, niche sports and those sports that command high levels of community involvement and participation.

The costs incurred by Fox Sports for the acquisition and broadcast of women’s niche and emerging sports has exceeded the $7.5 million taxpayer grant.

Women’s hockey is a sport which has benefited from government funding to Fox Sports. Pictured are Hockeyroos & state captains: Tamsin Bunt, Emily Hurtz, Edwina Bone, Jodie Kenny, Rachael Lynch & Emily Smith. Picture: Supplied

It includes acquiring the rights and providing broadcast coverage for the Women’s National Basketball League.

Head of WNBL, Sally Phillip, said Fox Sports had taken a “leap of faith” to back the league, which recognised it as a world-class league with globally elite athletes.

“Broadcast is such a vital piece of the puzzle for the WNBL. Being back on TV is helping the league and our clubs in increasing our visibility, which in turns creates positive conversations with new and existing commercial partners,” Ms Phillip said.

The WNBL has been a major benefactor from a government grant to put for women’s sport on TV. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The broadcaster has also secured a new partnership with the International Hockey Federation to show its premier international events, ensuring that hockey’s exposure will increase outside of the Olympic cycle.

Federal Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said the report exceeded expectations and showed the funding was making a real difference.

“Many sports struggle to secure consistent broadcast coverage, but this data shows audiences want to see under-represented sports on our screens,” Senator Fifield said.

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