WNBA sets 216-game schedule, making all 44 Fever games national.
The WNBA announced a record 216 national broadcasts for the upcoming season across seven distribution partners: ESPN/ABC, CBS/Paramount+, Prime Video, Ion, NBC/Peacock, USA Network, and NBA TV. As part of its distribution strategy, all 44 games featuring the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark will be aired nationally. The schedule combines broadcast, cable, and streaming, with partners like Prime Video carrying 31 games and Peacock streaming 12 games.
Key Takeaways
- The 216-game schedule is distributed across seven partners: ESPN/ABC, CBS/Paramount+, Prime Video, Ion, NBC/Peacock, USA Network, and NBA TV.
- All 44 Indiana Fever games, featuring rookie Caitlin Clark, will be broadcast nationally as the centerpiece of the league's media strategy.
- The distribution is fragmented, with Ion carrying the most games (50), followed by USA Network (48) and Prime Video (31).
- The WNBA Finals will air on NBC and USA Network, but every Finals game will also be streamed on Peacock.
Why It Matters
The WNBA is maximizing its media footprint by partnering with broadcast, cable, and streaming services simultaneously, ensuring broad reach. This strategy is centered on elevating its most marketable star, Caitlin Clark, by guaranteeing her national visibility for every game. This mirrors how other major sports leagues fragment rights to capture different audience segments. The deal gives platforms like Prime Video (31 games) and Peacock (12 games) exclusive inventory, making them required subscriptions for dedicated fans. Watch for viewership figures on streaming-exclusive platforms versus traditional broadcast to see how this fragmented approach performs.
Read full article at msn.com
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