Disney+ Joins European Broadcast Lineup for womens Champions League, Signaling Broader Investment in Global Women’s Sport
Disney+ has secured rights to broadcast the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) in select European markets, joining the European broadcasting Union (EBU) and BBC in expanding coverage of the competition. The deals, announced in recent months, represent a significant step forward for the UWCL, demonstrating increased commercial interest and visibility for women’s club football. This move by Disney, alongside growing investment from established broadcasters, underscores a shifting landscape where women’s sport is increasingly viewed as a valuable media property beyond its conventional core audience.
The UWCL’s expanding broadcast portfolio signals a broader trend: major players like Disney are recognizing the commercial potential of women’s sports properties outside of the United States. While the NWSL in the US has seen substantial growth and investment, especially with a recent rights deal that, while falling short of initial projections, still represented a significant uplift, the UWCL deals demonstrate a parallel surge in interest in Europe. This is particularly notable as it comes alongside other major women’s football rights acquisitions, including Netflix securing rights to the US women’s World Cup and ITV/BBC set to cover the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The latest UWCL deals build on previous growth.The competition has seen a substantial increase in value, with recent European deals representing a “bumper” increase in commercial interest, according to SportBusiness Media. The EBU has also secured its first standalone deal for the Women’s European Championship, further highlighting the growing market for women’s football rights.
Disney’s involvement is particularly noteworthy. While details of the specific territories covered by Disney+ have not been fully disclosed, the addition of the platform adds another major player to the UWCL’s broadcast family. The BBC will continue to provide core market exposure, while the EBU will also contribute to coverage.
These developments follow a period of significant growth for women’s sport broadcasting. The NWSL achieved a substantial rights fee increase,though it fell short of an initially reported “40x” increase. The Women’s Euro 2025 also saw its value increase in a standalone EBU deal. The trend suggests a growing recognition of the audience and commercial potential of women’s sports, attracting investment from both traditional broadcasters and streaming giants like Disney.
