ESPN is gearing up to make a significant change to its Sunday programming lineup by introducing a new franchise dedicated to showcasing sports that have often been overlooked. The new program, titled “Women’s Sports Sundays,” will serve as a platform for airing top matchups from the WNBA and NWSL, marking one of the largest investments in women’s sports programming by a major sports media provider.
The decision to launch “Women’s Sports Sundays” comes at a time when there is a growing interest in women’s sports leagues, including the WNBA and NWSL. The program will run for nine weeks during Sunday primetime in the summer, with the aim of attracting a wider audience to these leagues. In addition to live game coverage, ESPN plans to feature bespoke studio programming that will highlight the talent and stories within the leagues.
Susie Piotrkowski, vice president of women’s sports programming and espnW, emphasized the importance of showcasing women’s sports on a regular basis. She revealed that ESPN has a long-term commitment to promoting women’s sports, with plans to expand the “Women’s Sports Sundays” concept to other times of the year when key women’s sports events take place.
Rosalyn Durant, ESPN’s executive vice president of programming & acquisitions, underscored the network’s dedication to women’s sports, describing “Women’s Sports Sundays” as a significant milestone in their programming lineup. ESPN has been actively working to build its women’s sports programming and attract sponsors to support it. Financial-services firm Ally, for example, has shown a strong interest in aligning its advertising dollars with women’s sports programming.
In addition to ESPN’s efforts, other media entities have also shown support for women’s sports. WPP Media and Publicis Media have both made commitments to increase their investments in women’s sports programming, signaling a broader industry shift towards promoting female athletes and sports.
ESPN’s decision to launch “Women’s Sports Sundays” was inspired by a strategic shift in their sports programming lineup. The network recently reworked its rights deal with Major League Baseball, opting to focus on out-of-market games and midweek matchups. This shift opened up an opportunity for ESPN to showcase premium women’s sports properties during the summer months when interest in these leagues is high.
As ESPN prepares to roll out “Women’s Sports Sundays,” fans can expect to see exciting matchups, top talent, and engaging surrounding programming. The network aims to make women’s sports a mainstay in sports fans’ viewing schedules, emphasizing the quality of the games and the athletes involved. Stay tuned for more announcements from ESPN regarding matchups and programming details for “Women’s Sports Sundays.”
