BBC Sport asserts its commitment to women’s football and the Women’s Super League (WSL) despite discontinuing its flagship highlights programme, The Women’s Football Show, for the upcoming season.

The BBC plans to transition to digital platforms for highlights, including a newly launched YouTube channel dedicated to women’s football, moving away from the traditional weekly television format that aired on BBC One at 11:30 PM on Sundays. This change mirrors strategies used during the recent men’s World Cup, where the BBC opted for match-by-match highlights online, attracting millions of viewers.

Key elements of the shift include:

• Introduction of a new YouTube chat show hosted by Alex Scott, featuring past and present England internationals.
• Assurance from a BBC spokesperson that fans will still have access to highlights from all WSL matches across various platforms, including iPlayer, YouTube, and the BBC Sport website.
• Broadcasting of 25 live WSL matches and coverage of the Uefa Women’s Champions League to enhance viewer engagement.

Despite these commitments, the cancellation of the highlights show has surprised several insiders, with reports suggesting that many learned of the decision through external news sources. The BBC’s director of sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, has been linked to the decision, though some within the organization claim it was a collaborative choice.

The new league season begins on Friday, featuring a match between the London City Lionesses and Manchester United. While the BBC lost the rights to the Women’s FA Cup, it insists that its dedication to women’s football remains strong as it adapts to evolving audience preferences.