England’s top-tier Netball Super League has today announced a new rights deal with the BBC, the UK public-service broadcaster, and an extension with pay-TV giant Sky.
Described as “a landmark broadcast arrangement for the sport”, live coverage of the league will be available on two domestic broadcasters for the first time.
Sky, which has shown netball for more than 17 years, has agreed a three-year renewal.
It will broadcast all the games, along with the play-offs and grand final, on Sky Sports, with one game from each regular round shown on the Sky Sports YouTube channel.
The 2024 Netball Super League season begins on Saturday (February 17).
The BBC, meanwhile, has agreed a two-year deal and will show one live match per round during the regular season.
Matches will be shown on the BBC iPlayer streaming service and the BBC Sport website and app as well as on demand.
The BBC's coverage will start on February 24 when defending champions Loughborough Lightning face Team Bath.
Claire Nelson, Super League chief executive, said: “This is a hugely important milestone that enables us to showcase our sport to a bigger audience than ever before and is an incredible opportunity for the league, our clubs, and our players to satisfy the appetite that we know is there.
“As we journey to professionalisation, we remain completely committed to delivering innovation in terms of how fans consume and experience netball, and now with BBC Sport joining Sky Sports as our trusted partners, we’re not only unlocking unprecedented visibility for the league but also continuing to ensure that netball remains at the forefront of innovative sports broadcasting.
“With 75% of our TV audience watching on digital platforms, it’s these partnerships that will align with the changing viewing habits of our younger audiences.
“We have huge ambitions for the league as part of our plans around professionalization, and this is an important step ahead of 2025 where our aim is that every game will be broadcast everywhere around the world so that anybody can watch any game however and wherever they want to.”
In another addition for this season, in global markets without a TV deal, the Super League will be available on the NetballPass streaming service with a season pass, covering over 40 games.
Viewers will be able to watch all the games from the season opener, two games per regular round, and all the play-offs as well as the Grand Final.
The package is priced at £39.95 ($50.13) or a round pass available for £2.95.
The Super League grand final takes place on 29 June.
