• Loading stock data...
Saturday, November 2, 2024
The Best Employers in Sports survey is open through Nov. 6 Learn More

Women’s Basketball National Title Game Still Won’t Get Primetime Treatment

  • The 2024 Championship Game will be on ABC for a second straight year, but will still not be in primetime.
  • The 2023 edition between LSU and Iowa was by far the most-watched women’s college basketball game of all time.
LSU Lady Tigers guard Jasmine Carson dribbles the ball against Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark in the first half during the final round of the Women's Final Four NCAA tournament at the American Airlines Center.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN has released its plans to cover the 2024 Women’s Final Four in Cleveland — and it’s still far from ideal.

The Women’s Final Four will air on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday, April 5, followed by the National Championship Game on Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. ESPN will release its full schedule for the 2023-24 women’s college basketball season next week.

While parent company Disney is maintaining its plan to broadcast the National Championship on its ABC network for the second consecutive year, it’s also keeping the early tipoff instead of moving the contest up to primetime.

This is despite the 2023 telecast averaging 9.9 million viewers to become by far the most-watched women’s college basketball game of all time. 

Disney also saw proof of concept when it aired the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game on ABC in primetime to an audience of 850,000 — the most-watched edition of the game in 16 years.

Regardless, ESPN continues to invest in the women’s game: In September, the media company announced it would televise the entire Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament — essentially, the women’s version of the NIT — on its platforms. Most of the tournament will air on ESPN+, with the semifinals on ESPNU and the finals on ESPN2. 

With another strong showing, ESPN could be looking to renew its media rights deal for Women’s March Madness, which will be up for grabs in 2025; the next round of negotiations could fetch as much as $112 million per year.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Fubo-TV

Fubo Reports 9% Subscriber Growth As Venu Sports Trial Looms

The sports-focused streamer grew revenue by 21%.
Adam Schefter

Adam Schefter Uses Same Pirated NFL Clips As Everyone Else

ESPN’s NFL insider posted a video from an illegal stream Thursday night.

Could Amazon Make Black Friday a Legitimate Sports Holiday?

Prime made waves by putting an NFL game on Black Friday. The NBA is on the way.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

First-Ever 12-Team CFP Takes Shape

0:00

Featured Today

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Mission Swing State: College Football’s Political Advertising Battle

Trump, Harris, and the PACs that support them are utilizing the sport.
October 31, 2024

The Untapped Revenue ‘Powder Keg’ of Women’s NFL Fandom

There’s a “boatload” of money at stake for brands and the league.
Oct 19, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) shakes hands while entering the locker room after a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
October 28, 2024

NIL Director Is the Trendy New Job in College Sports. But the Role Is Chaos

Athletic departments nationwide are hiring for what’s become their most important position.
FuboTV signage
opinion
October 26, 2024

Fubo’s Fight Against Streaming Giants Feels Futile

Fubo notched a legal win, but subs and stock still slump.

World Series Delivers 7-Year Ratings Record, Marking MLB’s Big Comeback

Viewership of the five-game win by the Dodgers soared by 74% over last year.
October 30, 2024

World Series Game 4 Draws 16.7M Viewers, Up 92% From 2023

The average audience of 16.7 million nearly doubles the comparable figure from last year.
October 31, 2024

Comcast’s Olympic Gold: Paris Games Spark Surge in Peacock Subscribers

Company revenue and Peacock subscriptions rise thanks to a big Olympics boost.
Sponsored

World Series Delivers High-Demand Marquee Matchup

The hype around the World Series matchup drove ticket prices to record levels—but the Dodgers’ dominance quickly quieted the fervor.
October 30, 2024

Controversy, Championship Battles Keep F1 Viewers Tuned In

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen had a controversial encounter again Sunday.
October 30, 2024

NFL TV Ratings Up and Down in October As Election Draws Near

The NFL took an 8% ratings hit around the 2016 presidential cycle.
October 29, 2024

Baseball Wins the Night: World Series Outdraws ‘Monday Night Football’

MLB gains a rare head-to-head viewership win over the NFL.
October 29, 2024

Jets Prime-Time NFL Schedule Rolls On Despite 2–6 Record

The Jets are 1–3 in prime-time appearances so far.