Women’s fa cup broadcast blackout raises serious questions

This season, the women’s FA was given broadcast rights to TNT and Channel 4. Unlike the men’s agreement, it seems TNT will not show all the games. This could be more expected for lower-league teams. But Chelsea v Crystal Palace, Manchester United v Burnley and Bournemouth v Manchester City will not be available at all until the next day. This is two WSL sides: the FA Cup holders and the top of the WSL.

This game, which includes the FA Cup holders who have won the last four or five campaigns and a WSL2 side, will not be shown at all. No YouTube stream by the club. Nothing.

Why does it seem like the game is going backwards?

Why did the FA agree to this contract, knowing that some games wouldn’t be broadcast at all?

Why did TNT or Channel 4 not want to show Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City?

Renee Slegers when asked about this said: “I think we, we have to keep on making steps and #um and I'm sure that broadcasters and the league they're working very closely together to do what they can to grow at the right pace with how the game is growing. 
And I wasn't aware of this specific case. But I'm sure that on the long run and on the long term, but trying to do the right things to grow again.”

Three of the top four clubs will not have a game for fans to watch

Some fans have felt like this season, the women’s game has gone backwards, especially when it comes to broadcast rights. 

The only option is to watch the match 24 hours after the outcome is known, anyway.

One fan characterised this move as “Welcome to the Nikki Doucet era of women’s football in England.”

Doucet is the CEO of the WSL, the independent entity that runs the top two women’s football leagues, the same person who spent a lot of money rebranding logos rather than growing the women’s game.

The TNT agreement was that they would show a limited number of matches across the season, around 19 fixtures. Channel 4 will televise one match per round from the third round onwards in addition to TNT’s pick.

Broadcasters are criticised for not showing all women’s matches, unlike the men’s, due to audience interest and scheduling constraints. But given the outrage and the fact that they are not showing the team games with the most significant fan base, that’s not a reason. Commercial negotiation: which game to prioritise against the big four, who have the best commercial grip, especially the holders, Chelsea. Last other live sports commitments over the same weekend. Well, TNT does not show Premier League, and the Australian Open would have ended before these afternoon kick-offs. 

Only selected fixtures are shown; the rest often have only club match updates, radio coverage, or social media updates. This is similar to big cup competitions in general, where not every game is broadcast. 

Some rounds of the Women’s FA Cup receive minimal broadcast coverage because a large number of fixtures are played simultaneously. At the same time, broadcasters have only a small number of live slots available. Production costs and competing live sport also mean broadcasters prioritise matches they believe will attract the largest audiences, leaving many ties untelevised.

The idea of not televising early rounds makes some sense. But this is the round where the WSL side team come in, which is where the broadcast audience comes into it.

The Football Association does not decide which matches are shown. Instead, it approves the selections made by the competition’s broadcast partners, coordinates scheduling and kick-off times, and ensures contractual obligations are met. Still, it cannot require broadcasters to televise additional fixtures.

So why did TNT buy the rights to the women’s games if they aren’t interested in helping the game grow?

The lack of broadcast coverage for high-profile Women’s FA Cup matches involving clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City has a direct negative impact on the growth of the women’s game.

Firstly, it limits visibility at a time when interest in women’s football is growing but still fragile. Matches involving the biggest clubs and most recognisable players are often the gateway for casual fans. When those fixtures are unavailable to watch, opportunities to attract new audiences, convert interest into regular viewership, and grow fanbases are lost.

Secondly, it undermines momentum and storytelling. The Women’s FA Cup relies on narrative title holders, rivalries, star players and potential upsets. When significant ties are not broadcast, the competition struggles to build continuity and public relevance beyond dedicated followers who rely on live blogs or social media updates.

There is also a commercial impact. Sponsors, advertisers and broadcasters are less able to see consistent returns if even marquee fixtures are unavailable to a national audience. This weakens the commercial case for greater future investment and reinforces a cycle of limited coverage, justifying itself.

Finally, it sends a damaging message about priority and value. When men’s domestic cup games are routinely broadcast while women’s equivalents involving elite clubs are not, it reinforces perceptions that women’s football is secondary. That perception affects fans, investors and young players alike, slowing progress at a structural level.

In short, failing to broadcast flagship Women’s FA Cup fixtures restricts audience growth, weakens the competition’s profile, limits commercial development, and hampers the long-term growth of the women’s game.