SBS backs women’s sport with ongoing coverage of the Matildas

With cuts to the ABC having led to its reduction in broadcasting of women’s sport and an ongoing debate over all media’s interest in female sporting activity, SBS is continuing its tradition of women’s football coverage.

A long term supporter of football, the  Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) will broadcast every match of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup live and will stream other matches concurrently live online - including all Matilda’s matches.

Explaining the commitment, SBS Director of Sport Ken Shipp explained “the Matildas are a very strong team with a long history of success.

“In their previous two World Cup campaigns they qualified to the Quarter-finals stage – so we’re really looking forward to sharing their 2015 journey with the whole of Australia.”

With host Lucy Zelic, SBS has been a leader in the development of content that epitomizes Australia’s diversity including the promotion of female sports journalists.

The SBS aims to ensure that access and diversity is available on free-to-air programming with the minimum of advertisement distraction during coverage.

It has held women’s football in high regard, highlighting that other broadcasters, such as the ABC, who relinquished their coverage of the W-league at the end of last year, have not.

At a time when most media outlets avoid women’s sport, SBS is supporting the Australian Matildas in their quest for World Cup glory in Canada, at a time when coverage of women’s sport is at an all-time low.

Australian Womensport and Recreation Association Board member Danielle Warby recently stated “women’s football has earned its place on TV”, adding “the Matildas, ranked 10th in the world, are closer to a World Cup throne than the Socceroos and SBS have seen through the misconception that the women’s game is an inferior product, and should be commended for their support and genuine interest.

“It is a telling fact that the SBS can see the inherent popularity of the product and its interest by 65% of sports fans and the accompanying social messages being sent, while other commercial channels cannot.”

The Matilda’s FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign will begin on Tuesday, June 9th when they take on 2011 runner up USA at 9.00am AEST live on SBS One.

Their tournament continues when they go up against Nigeria at 6:30am AEST on Saturday 13th June live on SBS ONE, and Sweden, who finished third in 2011, at 9:30am AEST Wednesday 17th June live on SBS ONE.

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18th September 2014 - PFA AGREES THAT PLAYERS RIGHTS MUST EXTEND TO WOMEN