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☕ The Rise of the WNBA, Qatar Airways with the UEFA, Ligue 1 cinematic video, 32 job offers, etc.

☕ The Rise of the WNBA, Qatar Airways with the UEFA, Ligue 1 cinematic video, 32 job offers, etc.

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Olivier Spaeth
September 20, 2024

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An overall view after a WNBA game at the Barclays Center

The WNBA’s Rise: ION, ESPN see WNBA viewership soar in 2024

The 2024 WNBA season marked a significant turning point for the league, with viewership numbers reaching unprecedented heights. Both ESPN and ION experienced substantial increases in ratings, with multiple games surpassing the one million viewer mark. This surge in interest is a testament to the league's growing popularity and the strategic efforts of its broadcast partners.

The WNBA's regular season viewership more than doubled compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 23.7 million viewers. This unprecedented growth was fueled by expanded national coverage, which saw games airing on multiple networks including ION, NBA TV, ESPN platforms, Amazon Prime, CBS Network, and Paramount+/CBS.

ION network played a particularly pivotal role in driving viewership growth. Seven games on ION surpassed the one million viewer mark, with the network's Friday night doubleheaders featuring the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark proving to be particularly popular. ION's success was further enhanced by its ability to attract a significant female audience, with 50% of its viewers being female aged 18-49. Additionally, the network saw a substantial increase in male viewership.

ESPN also contributed significantly to the viewership surge, with an average of 1.2 million viewers for the regular season. The network's coverage of the WNBA All-Star game drew 3.44 million viewers, further demonstrating the growing interest in the league.

The record-breaking viewership numbers in 2024 indicate a promising future for the WNBA. The league's strategic partnerships with broadcast networks, combined with the growing popularity of women's sports, have created a solid foundation for continued growth and success. The emergence of rising stars like Caitlin Clark has also played a significant role in attracting new fans and generating excitement around the league. As the WNBA continues to evolve, it is poised to become a major force in the sports landscape.

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Quick Takes

Baseball

Shohei Ohtani becomes first to 50-50 with huge day: What is 50th HR ball worth? - cllct

Soccer / Football

Infantino calls emergency meeting with broadcasters over lack of FIFA Club World Cup deal - the athletic 💰

Sale of Cary soccer team would top $100 million - triangle biz journal 💰, sportico

Scotland Has Highest Football Attendance Per Capita In Europe - fc business

German football bidding to crack the U.S. market by signing up with media group Relevent - the athletic 💰, sports pro media

Man Utd stadium U-turn with Old Trafford to now be demolished if plan to build £2bn Wembley of the North goes ahead - the sun

Coventry City wanted to build new ‘eco-park’ ground smaller than current stadium but off-field saga saw plans halted - talk sport

RC Lens on track to buy Bollaert-Delelis stadium - stadium db

College Sports

The NCAA’s Big Spending Problem - sportico

How Charlotte agency helped Big East school Villanova update its look - charlotte biz journal 💰

LA 2028

L.A. 2028 Olympic organizers sign new corporate sponsors - la times

Rugby

Making the grade: Super League’s fight to win hearts and minds - sportbusiness.com

‘We’re in the culture and community era’: Parramatta Eels GM delivers masterclass in brand development - mumbrella

Sponsorships

French Rugby Federation takes Le Coq Sportif to court over unpaid €5.3m - sports pro media

Crypto Brands Revive Sports Sponsorships in 2024 With 26 New Deals - be in crypto

Stadium & Arena

Chicago sports teams are pulling out the stops in an effort to get public money for a new stadium - wjol

Real Madrid’s Bernabeu noise problem and the neighbours who forced them to postpone concerts - the athletic 💰

Going inside the Intuit Dome with George Hanna - sports biz journal 💰

Companies & Brands

The top 5 sports marketing ideas to know about right now - adage 🔒

Men & Women

Nike Replacing Embattled CEO John Donahoe - front office sports

Long format

Jonathon Clarke, development director for Oxford United FC, joined the Battle & Bunce Talking Property podcast to update listeners on the club's proposed new stadium.

Listen on buzzsprout, spotify

Claire Williams, former Deputy Team Principal of Williams Racing, is the guest of the Business of Sport show

Listen on apple podcast, spotify

Mike Milanov, Chairman - Advisory Board, Gaming & Esports at Qiddiya, is the guest of the Sports Tech Allstars Podcast. He talks about the Qiddiya City Gaming & Esport District.

Listen on apple podcast, spotify