ESPN the leading cable television sports network will exclusively show

English Super League matches during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

This deal is part of the Football Association's 4 year partnership with the

American broadcaster to provide programming covering the Football Association Cup.

This is a great deal for the female game which was looking for a major broadcaster after the fall and eventual bankruptcy of Irish network Setanta in 2009. With no deal in place the finance which would have come from any deal left a big gap which the Football Association needed to fill. This was seen as one of the reasons why the Super league was called off during early summer 2009.

This new deal along with the application process which has already begun shows signs that the female ganme is heading in the right direction in England. The signs are already in place that a number of talented players who have gone abroad may also be back in time for the start of the league in 2011 ( which is also the World Cup year ).

 

“We need a lot of things to happen – clubs have got to step up, we need the sponsorship, and we need to put on the competition and it needs to be successful – but we’re determined to go ahead with it.”

“We are extremely pleased to have added ESPN to our list of broadcast partners. As a global broadcaster, who have already demonstrated a strong presence in the UK, ESPN will give our football great visibility and we look forward to an excellent partnership with them.

"Whilst it’s a very different market to two years ago, we have nevertheless taken our time and as a result have received some strong, credible bids.”

FA Chief Executive, Ian Watmore,

 

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