Interest and coverage of the women’s game has soared over the last century.
While men’s football is notorious for wealth and millions spent on transfers and wages each season, the same figures are not seen at the highest level for the women’s equivalent.
The top Women’s Super League teams have begun to reveal their financial accounts for the season during the 24-25 tax year. Even though the increased popularity is linear with clubs’ yearly revenue, the top female teams maintain millions in net losses.
Manchester City Women’s 24-25 financial accounts were revealed:
As expected, matchday revenue and wage bills are on the rise with demand and transfer interest growing by year. But despite this, the net loss in the women’s top league is stubborn and they continue to rely on the loyalty of supporters.
One of the key factors that limits financial growth is visibility. Despite attendance and commercial interest improving, the league’s media presence has not expanded at the same pace.
In recent years, the broadcasting of Women’s football matches, particularly the WSL has struggled to maintain screentime, when compared to the men’s coverage.
Many male football pundits have plunged into the world of women’s football with the hope to increase viewership. The likes of Ian Wright, Nedum Onuoha and Seb Hutchinson have all covered women’s football to give the events their deserved position and commentary.
Senior football journalist Emma Saunders said: “Wrighty’s known among a lot of men’s football fans. Him talking about women’s football to a huge audience, you’d like to think that he’s maybe targeting a few people that wouldn’t ordinarily see that content or wouldn’t ordinarily see discussions around women’s football”
The prominence of recognisable names within the men’s football world has aided the increase of watch figures for female matches. Regardless of this, major women’s football events do not seem to struggle for viewers or broadcasting priorities.
Figures credit to Nielsen and shekicks
As any major women’s football event would usually take priority for broadcasters to show, it is not secret that the viewing figures have maintained sound interest.
Emma Saunders added: “The audience obviously have a relationship with men’s football in a way that they haven’t previously with women’s football because they haven’t seen it, it’s not been on their screens.”
This issue is not all down to demand, but structural and economic gatekeeping within the broadcasting industry. However, as the financial figures released by Manchester City’s Women share similarities with other WSL clubs, the interest in the Euro’s is being chiselled into the women’s league.